Paul Goble
Staunton, June 8 -- Nearly three weeks after Russian officials charged more than a dozen senior Muslim leaders with various crimes, an action Russian commentators said reflected the Central MSD’s promotion of extremism, that body which is headed by Ravil Gainutdin has responded with a public declaration denouncing all these charges and suggestions.
(On the arrests and commentaries in May, see windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2026/05/moscow-arrests-ten-senior-muslim.html and jamestown.org/moscows-arrests-of-muslim-spiritual-directorate-officials-likely-to-backfire/; for the Central MSD’s response, see dumrf.ru/upravlenie/documents/26455 and agents.media/duhovnoe-upravlenie-musulman-vpervye-prokommentirovalo-kampaniyu-po-presledovaniyu-islamskih-bogoslovov/.)
The Central MSD declared that “we categorically reject assertions made in certain media reports and by bloggers alleging that the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation is linked to extremism, radicalism, foreign influence, or inter-ethnic discord.”
“On the contrary,” it continues, “since its inception, the Spiritual Administration—representing a significant portion of Russia’s Muslims—has operated within the framework of Russian law and in the interests of inter-ethnic, interfaith, and civic harmony; it conducts religious-educational and social activities aimed at fostering the unity of all the peoples of our country.”
Consequently, “attempts to portray the Spiritual Administration of Muslims as a source of extremism serve not to protect society, but rather to fuel mistrust between state institutions and believers, as well as among the peoples of Russia. Amidst external pressure on the country, such a campaign plays into the hands of its adversaries by undermining internal unity and eroding trust in traditional religious institutions.”
And it concludes: “the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation considers it unacceptable to turn isolated, controversial incidents into a campaign aimed at discrediting a traditional religious institution of Russian Muslims. Such a campaign risks stoking inter-ethnic and interfaith tensions, undermines confidence in legitimate religious organizations, and distracts state authorities from addressing genuine threats.”
In short, the Central MSD and its leader Mufti Ravil Gainutdin have not been intimidated by the arrests and are coming out swinging as it were in defense of themselves and those who have been charged by the state authorities, a response that may make the government think twice about pursuing this campaign or face the consequences of resistance by Muslim leaders.