A Young Terrorist’s Journey Back Home to Russia - How He Failed at Jihad and Lost His Leg for Trying
Here you see the former ISIS supporter, a terrorist organization banned in Russia. At that moment, Yuri Balakshin from Saratov was in prison. In early 2000s, he became interested in Islam and made trips to Egypt to learn Arabic. He was curious about what was going on in Syria and decided to go there.
Yuri Balakshin, former ISIS supporter: "I'd like to tell those who wish to go to Syria that they shouldn't trust the people who claim that it's great there".
Every newcomer had their documents and cell phones withdrawn and received a personal ideology talk to clarify the circumstances of their arrival. Everyone was taught to handle weapons. Yuri Balakshin was a private in the terrorists' ranks. He guarded Jamia bases.
Yuri Balakshin: "At that time, I had no Russian-speaking friends among the locals or the ISIL terrorists and no opportunity to leave".
Yuri's mother was waiting for him in Russia. She couldn't even imagine her son was in Syria: He told her that he went to Egypt to get Islamic education. He called her once upon arrival and never got in touch again.
Irina, Yuri's mother: "He flew to Cairo and sent me a text message saying everything was OK. After that, he disappeared for two years".
Yuri wanted to quit Jamia and return home. As soon as the ISIL militants discovered his intentions they started blackmailing him.
Yuri Balakshin: "They told me that it would end badly if I continued to think about returning home. Everybody understood that, given the ongoing war, we were likely to die".
In May 2015, the former ISIL supporter came under an aerial assault and lost his leg.
Yuri Balakshin: "Our house came under an aerial assault that took the lives of two militants".
Yuri received a prosthetic. During his rehabilitation ISIS supporters, a terrorist organization banned in Russia tried to persuade him to commit suicide by blowing himself up. But Yuri had only one wish — to return home.
The militants of the self-proclaimed Islamic State mostly recruit people via Internet. Every day, they create dozens of websites in multiple different languages where they post propaganda videos showing parks and schools that remained intact. It's a montage. In reality, there are no landscaped territories or educational institutions that could admit students, only ruins after aerial raids. They don't respect women whom they promise riches and infinite love.
Vladimir Semenov, professor of political science: "They recruit different kinds of people. They find women who want to marry and promise them that they'll find real men there brave Muslim warriors that will protect you your kids and so on. Some women buy that".
But usually, women are forced to prostitute. They can be sold to one terrorist and then to another or even get killed.
The members of ISIL, a terrorist organization banned in Russia intentionally misinterpret Qur’an to justify their actions that have nothing to do with the actual Islam.
Fanil Hazrat Bibarisov, imam: "Hearing the words "ISIS" of "terrorists" many people mix them up with peaceful Muslims from all over the world. Many scientists believe and so do I that this grouping is an anti-Islam project and that ISIS, a terrorist organization banned in Russia is considered by many renowned scientists to be based on some different teachings rather than those brought to us by Prophet Muhammad our Rasul Allah, our master. He always preached about peace and good and taught us to treat people with dignity and modesty irrespective of their religion or ethnicity".
In early 2017 Yuri Balakshin managed to escape Syria and return to Russia. He willingly surrendered to the Federal Security Service in Saratov and confessed to everything. Several months after, he was released from prison. Now, Yuri has returned to his ordinary life: Found a job and a wife.
Irina, Yuri's mother: "What advice can I give to the parents? Be considerate towards your kids. Pay attention to those they keep company with and to their interests. And if they want to go to an Arabic country keep your ears open and find out why they are going there".