On 6 April, the chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany, Géza Andreas von Geyr. The participants discussed further cooperation in the field of Islamic research, theology and interfaith and intercultural dialogue.

Germany is one of the European countries that has demonstrated outstanding results in the development of Islamic and Islamic studies, Islamic theology, intercultural and interreligious communication, with the assistance of state bodies and leading educational and research centres. Due to socio-political and demographic processes on the Eurasian continent and in the world this field is assuming a greater importance.

Russia and Germany share their experience and academic achievements and jointly implement solutions for the development of Muslim communities and religious organizations, as well as religious and educational initiatives in a multicultural secular societies and states.

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, religious leader of Russian Muslims, explained how Islam spread on the territory of the modern Russian state and spoke about contemporary life of Russian Muslims and their religious institutions. He highly appreciated the relations between Russian and German Muslim organizations. He expressed his gratitude to the German participants, mentioning the current ambassador's predecessor, Rüdiger von Fritsch-Seerhausen, who had successfully implemented numerous joint projects. These projects include the 15th International Muslim Forum in Berlin in December 2019, internships and joint research projects with the participation of employees of the Moscow Islamic Institute and Islamic studies centres in Germany, and the Russian translation and publication of the fundamental work by Professor Matthias Rohe "Islamic Law: History and Modernity".

Géza Andreas von Geyr thanked him for the invitation to the Moscow Cathedral Mosque and noted that he had some knowledge of Islamic culture, since he had an opportunity to learn about Islam and its traditions while executing his diplomatic service in Morocco. The diplomat stressed that the Embassy was ready to develop close cooperation with Muslims of Russia, which would contribute to further strengthening and developing friendly relations between the two countries.
Mr von Geyr also noted that the dialogue and search for mutual understanding are even more relevant  in the context of digital technologies and the crisis related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mufti Gaynutdin spoke about plans for the forthcoming celebration of the 1100th anniversary of the official adoption of Islam by the peoples of Volga Bulgaria in 2022, which is supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin. He invited the German side to participate in these major events.

The meeting was attended by the first deputy chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Damir Mukhetdinov, deputy chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation for International Affairs Rushan Abbyasov, head of the International Department Ildar Galeyev, as well as employees of the Russian Religious Board of Muslims and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.