Imam in Moscow fined for conducting Friday prayers without permission

The Moscow Regional Court fined the imam-khatib of the Muslim community of the city of Elektrostal for holding a Friday prayer attended by 623 people without informing law enforcement agencies in advance.

This is in violation of regulations introduced by the regional "anti-terrorism commission" in April 2024. According to these regulations, organizers of mass religious events are required to notify the police and the FSB (Federal Security Service) in advance to ensure security, Russian media reports.