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Russian authorities working to prevent youth from joining Islamic State — lawmaker

Federation Council Deputy Speaker expressed regret that youngsters from Russia and CIS were among insurgents in Iraq, Syria and other countries

MOSCOW, August 25. /TASS/. Russian authorities are carrying out large-scale work to stop young people being lured to join armed gangs operating in Syria and neighbouring states, the deputy speaker of the upper house of parliament said on Tuesday.

Speaking to Ali Haidar, Syria's minister for national reconciliation affairs, Federation Council Deputy Speaker Ilyas Umakhanov, expressed regret that youngsters from Russia and former Soviet countries in the regional Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) were among insurgents in Iraq, Syria and other countries.

"We are carrying out large-scale work through various channels and mechanisms, including international organizations, schools, education and mass media, to prevent another twist of recruiting young people to these armed gangs," Umakhanov said, noting the need to "unite all forces fighting against terrorism" to effectively combat Islamic State militants.