How Russia Allowed Homegrown Radicals To Go And Fight In Syria

Four years ago, Saadu Sharapudinov was a wanted man in Russia. A member of an outlawed Islamic group, he was hiding in the forests of the North Caucasus, dodging patrols by paramilitary police and plotting a holy war against Moscow.

Then his fortunes took a dramatic turn. Sharapudinov, 38, told Reuters that in December 2012 Russian intelligence officers presented him with an unexpected offer. If he agreed to leave Russia, the authorities would not arrest him. In fact, they would facilitate his departure.