MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. American journalist Christopher Helali, who has signed a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry’s commando unit Akhmat, is highly motivated and will carry out his combat missions effectively during the Special Military Operation, Lieutenant General Apty Alaudinov, Deputy Chief of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces and Akhmat commander has told TASS.

"Christopher joined the 'Akhmat' special forces of his own volition. He was born into a family with an Iranian, Shia Muslim father and a Greek Orthodox mother; he is an American citizen," Alaudinov said. "He will be performing standard combat tasks. I believe he is very positive and will carry out his duties well, proving himself as a future citizen of Russia - patriot of our country."

Alaudinov noted that the journalist was labeled a "terrorist" for traveling to attend the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. "Following that, he requested Russian citizenship. He has submitted his documents - though he has not yet received citizenship - and he also made the decision to join the fight special military operation," Alaudinov explained.

In the past, Helali served as a US Marine.

"He has now joined our ranks and completed full-scale training at our testing ground. He is very satisfied and says that our training program is exceptionally strong," Alaudinov added. In the summer, Christopher Helali, international secretary of the Communist Party USA and an American investigative journalist, told TASS that he had requested Russian citizenship from President Vladimir Putin.