In the Russian Federation, there are about eight thousand operational mosques, the first deputy chairman of the board of muftis of Russia, Rushan Abbyasov, reported today at a press conference in Moscow. According to him, in 1991 in Russia there were less than 100 mosques, and before the revolution of 1917, in the territory of modern Russia, there were about 15 thousand mosques and Muslim buildings under construction. The Moscow cathedral mosque construction of 1904, which after restoration is to reopen on September 23rd, has been increased in size by 20 times to 19 thousand sq. m. It will allow 10 thousand believers to gather for Mohammedan prayers at the same time, thus in terms of capacity it will become the largest in Europe. The deputy mufti of Crimea, Esadullakh Bairov, said that about 300 mosques today, 80 of which are historical, operate on the peninsula, the most ancient of which last year celebrated its 700 anniversary.
