Meduza correspondent Ilya Azar detained in Chechnya on suspicion of belonging to ISIL

Source: Meduza

Meduza's special correspondent Ilya Azar has been detained outside Grozny, the capital of Chechnya. Azar was detained between 1:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the village of Kirov, where he was visiting the burned remains of houses that recently belonged to the relatives of men who attacked a checkpoint in Grozny on May 9. (In Chechnya, militants' families are often punished for attacks.)

Anton Naumlyuk, a correspondent for Radio Svoboda, managed to reach Azar by telephone, learning that members of the police (it's still unclear from what department) arrived in Kirov. Azar was reportedly detained in order to verify his identity.

According to unconfirmed reports, Azar is currently being held at a police department in Grozny.

Update: Around 5:15 p.m., police released Azar. He says the authorities wanted to know if he is a terrorist or a terrorist sympathizer. They also asked him if he's a member of ISIL, he says.

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Meduza correspondent Ilya Azar detained in Chechnya on suspicion of belonging to ISIL

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