The Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation and the Russia Muftis Council, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, received a delegation from the Republic of Uzbekistan headed by Mehriddin Khairiddinov, Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic.

The delegation included deputy chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of Uzbekistan Ibrohim Inomov, counselor of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in the Russian Federation Alisher Ziyamukhamedov, chief officer of the Department for protection of rights of citizens of Uzbekistan working abroad and international economic cooperation of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan Otabek Botirjonov. From the Russian side, the meeting was attended by deputy chairmen of the RBMRF Rushan Abbyasov, Damir Mukhetdinov and Ildar Nurimanov, and the gead of the International Department of the RBMRF Ildar Galeyev.

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin highly appreciated the level of Russian-Uzbek relationship and the contribution of the leaders of both countries to its development. He stressed that Uzbekistan is undertaking numerous activities in the religious sphere, including restoration of Islamic monuments, opening of new educational institutions and enhancing the spiritual development of the country. The religious leader of Russian Muslims also took the opportunity to invite the President of Uzbekistan to visit the Moscow Cathedral Mosque as part of his visit to Russia scheduled for this year.

While tlking about bilateral cooperation, Mufti noted that a number of religious leaders from Uzbekistan successfully delivered lectures in Moscow and some other Russian cities on the eve of presidential elections in Uzbekistan. The head of the RMC emphasized the importance and the need for such visits. He assured the delegates that the RBMRF and the RMC are ready to cooperate with the Religious Board of Muslims of Uzbekistan and to receive delegations that would interact with foreign workers, both in the Moscow Cathedral Mosque and where migrants live, in the Moscow region and other Russian regions.

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin stressed that the existing ties between Russia and Uzbekistan are important to him, since he is a graduate of one of the religious schools of Uzbekistan. Mufti said that the Muslim community of Russia is looking forward to the official visit of Mufti of Uzbekistan Nuriddin Kholiknazarov, which will contribute to strengthening relations between the religious boards and Muslim communities of the two countries.

While discussing the dialogue between religious leaders of different countries on current issues and challenges, Mufti mentioned that the International Academic and Theological Conference "Spiritual Silk Road" can serve as a powerful tool to achieve this goal. He informed that the 5th conference was supposed to take place in 2020 in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, but these plans were disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.