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Lawyer Wants Psychiatric Examination of Moscow Student Accused of Trying to Join IS

Varvara Karaulova

A lawyer for the Moscow student under arrest on suspicion of trying to join the Islamic State has called for her to undergo a psychiatric examination, the Interfax news agency reported Thursday.

Varvara Karaulova was arrested Wednesday after security officers logged her attempt to allegedly make contact with a man in Syria connected to the Islamic State.

“We have reasons to believe Varvara did not realize what she was doing and was not in control of herself,” her lawyer Alexander Karabanov told the news agency.

Karaulova attempted to go to Syria in May, but was detained in Turkey by Interpol and local police. She was sent back to Moscow, with no charges brought against her at the time.

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