Estonian Islamic fighter makes video plea for friends facing terrorism aiding charges
A man from Estonia now believed to be fighting in Syria made a video message to Estonian authorities, saying two others currently on trial for helping him flee to Syria to fight for a terrorist organization, are innocent.
Ivan Sazanakov converted from Orthodox Christianity to Islam and traveled to Syria in 2013. In the video he said, speaking in Russian, that he has not joined the Islamic State and the two men on trial, Ramil Khalilov and Roman Manko could not have sent money to him as there are no banks in Syria.
Estonian authorities say Khalilov himself accompanied Sazanakov's wife and children to Syria and gave him money there. The sums range in the hundreds of euros, totaling a few thousand euros.
The trial over Khalilov and Manko began earlier in the week. Both men reject the charges of aiding and funding terrorism.
Sazanakov himself is wanted by authorities for allegedly belonging to a terrorist organization.
Editor: J.M. Laats