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Fate of Russian detainees in Turkey still unclear

Turkish officials have yet to decide the future of three Russians — including a toddler — who were intercepted as they were allegedly traveling to Syria to join the Islamic State.
Cameras installed on armoured military vehicles monitor Syrian side of the border, near the southeastern city of Kilis, Turkey, March 2, 2017. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RTS114SP
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Turkish authorities are trying to determine how to handle the case of a Russian couple detained at the Turkish border with Syria as they were allegedly on their way to join the Islamic State (IS) with two young children in tow.

Svetlana Ukhanova, 24, Yevgeny Kochaari, 27, and two children were trying to get to Syria using forged documents, according to Tass, the Russian government’s news agency. Ukhanova is the mother of both children. Her 6-year-old daughter, Lisa, is from her first marriage; 18-month-old Amina is Kochaari’s daughter. It is unclear whether Kochaari and Ukhanova are legally married.

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