Russian national living in California pleads guilty to aiding terrorist group

Murat Kurashev, 36, on Monday pleaded guilty to providing financial support to Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. The group, called HTS, is active in Syria and was designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department in 2014. A federal grand jury in February 2021 indicted Kurashev on the charge following an investigation by the FBI. From July 2020 through February 2021, Kurashev sent about $13,000 to known associates of the group, according to the indictment. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for March 18.

Has Russia detained any more American citizens? Russian officials over the weekend detained United States citizen Robert Romanov Woodland on drug charges. A Moscow court ruled to keep him in custody for two months, and the U.S. State Department did not immediately comment on his arrest. Meanwhile, American officials are still trying to secure the release of U.S. citizens Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich. 

Dig deeper: Read Jill Nelson’s report in WORLD Magazine on the investigation to hold Russia accountable for its alleged war crimes.