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Moscow denies reports of Iraq demanding money for repatriation of Russian children

Some media reports claimed that Iraq was demanding $6,000 for each child and for this purpose

MOSCOW, November 16. /TASS/. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has refuted media reports about repatriation of children of the Russian nationals fighting for the Islamic State terrorist group (banned in Russia) under the condition of payments to Baghdad, the ministry said in a press release on Friday.

"Recently, certain Russian and foreign media outlets published information about efforts taken by the Russian Foreign Ministry and Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Anna Kuznetsova, which aim to repatriate Russian underage citizens, the members of families of Islamic State combatants fighting in Iraq and Syria," the foreign ministry said.

Some of the reports claimed that Iraq was demanding $6,000 for each child and for this purpose. "Moscow is negotiating the children’s return in exchange for money with Baghdad," it said.

"The given information absolutely does not reflect the reality," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "The Iraqi authorities, namely the Foreign, Interior and Justice Ministries, provide comprehensive assistance in our work, including to the embassy in Baghdad, to repatriate Russian minors, taking into consideration the importance and urgency of [finding] a solution to the given humanitarian issue."

"We offer our sincere gratitude to all Iraqi agencies engaged in settling this problem," it said.

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