Detentions of muftis of the Muslim Spiritual Board of the Russian Federation

On May 19, 2026, a number of media outlets and Telegram channels reported the detention in different regions of several representatives of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia (DUM RF).

The detention of two has been officially confirmed - the former Mufti of Karelia Visam Ali Bardvil and the chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Mordovia Abdulmalik (Rail) Asainov.

Asainov was detained on suspicion of giving a bribe to the head of the master's program of the Mordovian State University "Islamic Economics and Finance".

On May 20, the Tagansky Court of Moscow arrested Bardvil for 15 days under Part 1 of Art. 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (disobedience to a lawful order or requirement of a police officer) - for refusal to present documents to law enforcement agencies at Sheremetyevo Airport.

It is possible that the chairman of the Muslim Community of the North-West, Mohammed Henni, in St. Petersburg, and the adviser to the Mufti of the Saratov region, El Khikh Nidal Awadalla Ahmed, in Saratov, were also detained.

Sources

• The court held a resident of the capital administratively liable for refusing to present documents to law enforcement officers at Sheremetyevo Airport // Telegram channel “Courts of General Jurisdiction of the City of Moscow.” 2026. May 20.
• Deputy Mufti of Mordovia commented on the detention of Rail-Hazrat Asainov // Islam in Mordovia. 2026. May 20.
• At least two muftis of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia were detained // Agency.News. 2026.