Four thousand immigrants from Russia fight on Syrian side, Putin says

A huge number of fighters from Russia and former Soviet republics fight in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with officers of the Northern Fleet.

According to the President, there are thousands of Russian fighters. ”According to GRU’s data of the General Staff of the FSB, there are up to four thousand of Russians and five thousand citizens of the former Soviet Union,’’  Putin said, adding that due to the visa free regime between countries, it is obvious what a great danger for Russia is in this hotbed of terrorism on the territory of Syria.