A Drama at Moscow: 30 Russian Kids Make Their Grand Homecoming
Picture this: a hotly‑planned flight, a bustling airport, and a huddle of tiny faces that have spent their whole childhoods on the other side of the world. On Sunday, December 30, a Russian emergency flight touches down at Zhukovsky Airport in Moscow, carrying thirty children whose moms are still behind Iranian prison bars in Iraq, accused of linking up with ISIS.
The kids—ranging from 3 to 10 years old—were left orphaned in a war zone, after their dads fell in the fierce conflict that scorched Iraq over the past three years. Before the plane even cleared the tarmac, a Russian diplomat told AFP that their fathers were likely killed in that North‑South battle against jihadists.
Chechen Crack Attack
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov made a brief but fiery statement on Telegram, announcing the successful landing. He called the return “undeniable proof” that the mission launched by President Vladimir Putin—saving all those women and children lost in Syria and Iraq—was absolutely on point.
“If we don’t bring them home, the other countries’ special services will treat them as casualties,” Kadyrov warned.
Hospital Check‑Ups and a Sprinkle of Tik‑Tok
Once the kids arrived, the Russian Health Ministry’s press office informed us that they were craned to a local hospital for a “thorough examination.” Safety first! Kadyrov also shared a clip on VKontakte showing the kids’ last flight out of Baghdad, noting that 24 of the 30 hailed from Dagestan and three came all the way from Chechnya.
Who’s Who in the Russian “Caliphate” Exodus?
- Several thousand Russians once joined the jihadists in the vast “caliphate” spanning Syria and Iraq.
- A handful brought families along, and some of those families didn’t stay for the long haul.
- Since last year, a breathtaking count of ~100 women and children—most from Russia’s Muslim‑rich Caucasus—have returned thanks to Kadyrov’s program.
But it’s not that simple. In mid‑November, Kheda Saratova, a Chechen activist and ally of Kadyrov, accused the Russian FSB of blocking the return of the remaining widows and children. She pointed out that over 2,000 people still linger in Syria and Iraq, at least as far as her organization is concerned.
In Baghdad: A Dialogue on Humanitarian Issues
While Moscow is bustling with this reunion, down in Baghdad, Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi meets with Anna Kuznetsova, the Russian envoy focusing on child rights. Abdel Mahdi stressed that “humanitarian issues” should be separated from “terrorist crimes.” He also emphasized that these kids were victims—not perpetrators.
Over 300 people, including around 100 foreigners, have faced the death penalty or life imprisonment in Iraq for joining ISIS. Even though Baghdad declared victory over the extremist group last December, a few sleeper cells remain, with occasional hit‑and‑run assaults.
These 30 children, with a handful of their friends from Dagestan and Chechnya, have finally got the home‑coming they sorely needed. The world ought to re‑arm themselves with humane narratives, because after all, no kid should ever be left behind like this…
