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Moscow student allegedly aiming to join IS terrorists to be questioned by police

19-year-old Varvara Karaulova and another 12 Russians were detained in Turkey while trying to cross the border into Syria

MOSCOW, June 10. /TASS/. Varvara Karaulova, a student of Moscow State University’s Philosophy Department, who was detained in Turkey at the border with Syria on allegations of an intention to join a terrorist group, will be questioned at a police station after her arrival in Russia, a spokesperson for the Russian Interior Ministry told TASS on Wednesday.

"Taking into regard that inquiries into Varvara Karaulova’s case were launched and evidence of her possible recruitment [by the Islamic State] was registered at the Moscow police department, Ms Karaulova will be delivered to a police station for questioning upon her arrival to the Russian Federation," Elena Aleksyeva said.

On May 27, the 19-year-old Moscow student left home pretending to go to university, but has never returned. Later, she was traced to have secretly flown to Istanbul. On June 2 the Interpol launched searches and two days later, on June 4, its Turkish staff members detained Karaulova and another 12 Russians who were trying to cross the border into Syria. They are believed to arrive in Turkey with the aim to reach Syria via the Turkish southern border and to join militants.