Russia wants to turn Crimean mosques into propaganda centers

Russia wants to use Crimean mosques as propaganda centers in order to attract local Muslims to the Russian armed forces.

According to KRIIM.News, on January 4, 2024, a meeting was held between Vladimir Konstantinov, the speaker of the Crimean parliament occupied by Russia, and Emirali Ablaev, the mufti of Crimea under the control of the Kremlin.

According to the received information, the parties discussed measures to recruit Crimean Tatars into the ranks of the Russian army.

At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed on the following issues:

▪ Conduct propaganda campaigns every Friday in mosques in Crimea to encourage Crimean Tatars to serve under contract in the Russian army;

▪ Creating content on Russian propaganda media and Telegram channels to spread the idea that the majority of Crimean Tatars are ready to participate in hostilities on the side of Russia;

▪ Implementation of regular measures to distribute specially prepared pamphlets in Crimean Tatar language promoting contract military service in the Russian army in mosques in Crimea (the pamphlets state that contract servicemen in the Russian army receive a salary of 250,000 rubles).