Kuban police report closing illegal prayer rooms

As a result of the police raid, law enforcers discovered ten illegal migrants from the Central African Republic (CAR) and brought the spiritual leader of the prayer room to justice.

On June 16, the Kuban police reported about the closure of illegal prayer rooms for Muslims in Krasnodar and four villages of the Krasnodar Territory.

According to the law enforcement bodies’ information, a prayer room on Zapadnaya Street in Krasnodar was operating with violations. In addition, illegal places of “Muslim religious rites” were discovered in the Cossack village of Varenikovskaya in the Krymsky District, in the Khorin farmyard, and in the villages of Mayak and Podgornaya Sinyukha in the Otradnensky District, reports the police for the Krasnodar Territory on its official Telegram channel.

A short video recording published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) shows that during the police raids, law enforcers checked at least several dozen visitors to prayer rooms located in private houses.

“Administrative protocols under Part 4 of Article 5.26 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation have been drawn up against a 67-year-old Russian citizen and the spiritual leader of a prayer room in Krasnodar,” the police for the Krasnodar Territory reports. The mentioned article (carrying out missionary activities in violation of the requirements of the laws on freedom of conscience, freedom of religion and religious associations) provides for a fine for citizens ranging from 5000 to 50,000 roubles.

In addition, during the raids on prayer rooms, the police discovered ten illegal migrants from the Central African Republic (CAR). According to the law enforcement bodies’ information, the illegal migrants have been brought to administrative responsibility for violating the rules of stay in Russia, and two of them have also been charged with driving a vehicle with malfunctions and without state registration.

This was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 16, 2025 at 07:58 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.