14:42, 21 December 2016

In her final speech, Varvara Karaulova admits her fault

Alexandra Ivanova (Varvara Karaulova). Photo: RFE/RL

Today, Alexandra Ivanova (Varvara Karaulova), a student, accused of an attempt to join a terrorist organization in Syria, has asked the court for leniency.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 5, the Moscow District Military Court began considering the case of Varvara Karaulova, accused of attempting to participate in a terrorist organization in Syria.

On June 4, 2015, Varvara Karaulova, a student of the Moscow State University (MSU), was detained at the Turkish-Syrian border among other citizens of Russia, including natives of Chechnya and Dagestan, and citizens of Azerbaijan, who, according to the investigators, intended to join the "Islamic State", banned in Russia by court and recognized as a terrorist organization. During the preliminary investigation, Alexandra Ivanova pleaded guilty; however, later she retracted her confession.

"I have understood everything when I found myself near a border at a migration centre. It was a huge mistake. I want to leave everything in the past, and I do not want my family members and friends to treat me as a suicide bomber and a terrorist. I believe I have already been punished enough and I dream to atone for my fault," stated the defendant.

Besides, Alexandra Ivanova has also asked her parents to forgive her for her escape from home. "I talked to him (a recruiter), because I loved him and not because he was a member of some extremist organization. That was a sick and inadequate passion," said Alexandra Ivanova as quoted by the "Interfax".

The pronouncement of the verdict against Alexandra Ivanova is scheduled for December 22, the "Kommersant" reports.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.