Coordinated raids were carried out across Moscow, St Petersburg, and regional republics targeting senior Muslim figures. The actions followed inflammatory remarks by Ruslan Kutayev, who claimed radical Islamists were prepared to control Moscow and act at the right moment. He also asserted that confidence in Putin was eroding, saying nobody believed Putin and that Putin had lost. Pro-Kremlin military bloggers and nationalist commentators demanded investigations into Islamic organizations seen as close to the Russian state. Detentions included Rail-Khazrat Asainov, arrested over alleged bribery accusations, and Visam Ali Bardvil, jailed for resisting police at Sheremetyevo airport. Other clerics were also detained, with investigators reportedly examining possible links to foreign organizations and the Muslim Brotherhood, classified as a terrorist group by Russia.
"Russian security services carried out coordinated raids across Moscow, St Petersburg and several regional republics following inflammatory comments by Ruslan Kutayev, who claimed Russia's growing Muslim population would become the decisive political force in a future post-Putin power struggle. "We will control Moscow," Kutayev declared in remarks that sent shockwaves through Russian nationalist and pro-war circles. "At the right moment, we will act." He also claimed that confidence in Putin's leadership was eroding inside Russia, saying: "Nobody believes Putin. Everyone knows that Putin has lost.""
"The comments triggered fierce backlash from influential pro-Kremlin military bloggers and nationalist commentators, many of whom demanded investigations into Islamic organisations seen as close to the Russian state. The Federal Security Service, or FSB, appears to have responded rapidly. Among those detained was Rail-Khazrat Asainov, a senior Islamic cleric and member of Mordovia's regional Public Chamber, who was reportedly arrested over alleged bribery accusations. Former Karelia mufti Visam Ali Bardvil was separately jailed for 15 days after allegedly resisting police officers at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport."
"Other prominent Islamic figures reportedly detained include Mohammed Henny and El Khikh Nidal Awadalla Ahmed. Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels claimed investigators were examining possible links between some detained clerics, foreign organisations and the Muslim Brotherhood, which Russia classifies as a terrorist group. The operation signals a significant shift in Moscow's approach toward parts of Russia's Islamic establishment, much of which has publicly backed Putin and supported the war in Ukraine."
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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