Publication

This paper discusses how Russia reacted to the June 23, 2015 declaration by Abu Muhammad al-Adnani - a spokesman for the so-called Islamic State (IS) - announcing the establishment of Wilayat Qawqaz (Caucasus Province). The author points out that although Russia refused to take an active part in fighting the IS, despite the threat it posed to the Kremlin sponsored Assad regime in Syria, Moscow has declared IS a main enemy of Russia and an overall regional threat following the declaration. He then concludes that there is likely to be a reassessment in the Kremlin of the policy of avoiding involvement in the civil war in Syria and that stronger Russian support of the international coalition fighting IS should be expected.