19:45, 5 October 2017

State Duma member confirms execution of captured Cossack in Syria

Cossack Roman Zabolotniy. Photo: press service of the All-Great Don Cossack Army

Cossack Roman Zabolotniy captured by militants in Syria was executed with another Russian citizen after refusing to become a member of the IS. The work is underway to organize the transportation of his body to his homeland. This was reported by Victor Vodolatsky, a State Duma member, the former ataman of the All-Great Don Cossack Army.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the execution of Roman Zabolotniy was reported by Anatoly Kotlyarov, the secretary for the board of the regional volunteer public organization "Bratskaya Pomosch" (Brotherly Aid). Roman Zabolotniy was a member of the Rassvet Cossack Community, reported members of the public organization "All-Great Don Cossack Army".

On October 3, the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS), banned in Russia, published a video in which Roman Zabolotniy, a native of the Rostov Region, reported that he and a native of the Moscow Region were captured prisoners in Syria.

According to Victor Vodolatsky, the information about the execution of Roman Zabolotniy and Grigory Tsurkanu was "confirmed by 99%."

"After the air, in which Roman reported from where he originated and who he was, the militants demanded from the captured prisoners to say that they would refuse the Orthodox faith and join the IS. They refused, and the militants shot and killed them," reported Victor Vodolatsky as quoted by theNational News Service.

Russian citizen Grigory Tsurkanu was a fighter of the private military "Wagner's company", reported his brother Roman. He also said that "the brother left for Syria in May and hid his mission," the Radio Liberty reports.

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