- Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to Chechnya on Wednesday, his first trip to the region in over a decade.
- A video of Putin kissing a gifted Quran has gone viral.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the newly inaugurated “Prophet Isa” mosque in Chechnya on August 21 sparked widespread reactions after event footage went viral on social media.
In Grozny, the Chechen capital, Putin was presented with a gold-encrusted Quran, which he kissed as a gesture of respect. President Putin is a member of the Russian Orthodox Church himself.
This marked Putin’s first visit to Chechnya in 13 years, following his arrival on August 20 amid the ongoing invasion of Kursk by Ukraine.
Putin was joined by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and Mufti Salah Mezhiev, head of the spiritual administration of Muslims in the Chechen Republic. The video of Putin kissing and holding the Quran close received widespread attention and acclaim online.
Social media users responded to Putin’s gesture with praise, while some criticised it, suggesting that his respect was politically motivated.
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Notably, the Islamic world fervently calls for Russia’s complete military withdrawal from Syria. A demand driven by Russia’s brutal and extensive killing of innocent Muslim civilians.
