To understand Tamerlan Tsarnaev, it might help to understand Dagestan, the volatile Russian region that is said to have deeply influenced him<br/> <br />When he returned here in 2012, family members who hadn't seen him in years, say they were surprised by his new interest in religion.<br/> <br />It fit with the shift that is underway here --- where veils and enveloping Islamic dress are increasingly replacing mini-skirts and where young men who join the insurgency are said to quote... "go into the forest," a rite of passage of sorts.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: Dagestan Resident Sveta saying (Russian)<br/> <br />"Suddenly everyone's started becoming Muslim - it means people have become smarter."<br/> <br />ZAID ABDULAGATOV is a religion expert at the city's institute of economic and social research.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: Zaid Abdulagatov, Religion Expert Dagestan Institute Of Social And Economic Research saying (Russian):<br/> <br />"I can't say that one of them (Islamic extremists) spoke with him (Tamerlan Tsarnaev), met w
