Russia Verifying Reports on Release of Citizen With Alleged Daesh Links

The Russian Embassy in the Turkish capital is investigating reports that a Russian citizen suspected of Daesh terrorist links has been released from detention, the embassy’s press attache said Friday.

ANKARA (Sputnik) – Earlier in the day, a court in Antalya reportedly released Kamaludin Babayev on his own recognizance. Babayev was detained with two other Russian citizens in January on suspicion of Daesh membership.

"We are investigating the information about the release of a Russian citizen by Turkish authorities," press attache Igor Mityakov told RIA Novosti.

Turkish media reported on January 11 that the three Russian citizens were suspected of providing logistical support to Daesh. A suicide blast near Istanbul’s tourist attractions the following day claimed 10 lives, most of them Germans.

Babayev denies the accusations and all three suspects decline the Russian consulate staff's attempts to get in contact with them.

The Russian Foreign Ministry named one of the Antalya suspects Aydar Suleimenov, released on his own cognizance on January 15. A competent authority source told RIA Novosti the Republic of Tatarstan’s Interior Ministry charged him with terrorist activity in absentia and put him on the wanted list last year.

A third Russian citizen said to be named Ruslan Khaibullov has been deported from Turkey.