Most Russian children smuggled to Iraq, Syria come from Chechnya, Dagestan

Most Russian children currently in Syria in Iraq whose parents were swayed by the Daesh terrorist organization (banned in Russia) are from Russia's republics of Dagestan and Chechnya, Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Anna Kuznetsova said Tuesday, Sputnik reports.

"We have created a data base of almost 350 names and addresses, contacts. It covers the whole territory of Russia — Ulyanovsk, Rostov, all the regions that you can think of. Of course, the majority [of children] are residents of Chechnya and Dagestan. As of today, Dagestan's lists account for over 200 [people], this is what has been obtained by the commissioner, but according to unofficial data the number is even higher," Kuznetsova told reporters after a meeting on the issue, participated by Syrian and Iraqi envoys as well as representatives of Dagestan, Chechnya, the Russian Foreign Ministry and the children rights commissioner's office.

She added that recent return of one of the boys back from an orphanage to his relatives in Chechnya gave hope to other families.

"In past few days we have received over 30 messages with pictures," Kuznetsova said.