Putin Vows to Imprison Anyone Burning Quran: Guilty to Serve Sentence in Russia's Muslim Regions

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that individuals found guilty of burning the Quran will be required to serve their sentences in regions of Russia with predominantly Muslim populations. The decision comes in response to a recent incident in Volgograd, where Nikita Zhuravel, a 19-year-old native of Sevastopol who has been studying in Volgograd for a few years, was apprehended on suspicion of burning a copy of the Quran in front of a mosque.

According to Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti, Zhuravel has been transferred to a pre-trial detention center in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya. Upon his arrival at the detention center, Zhuravel encountered “outraged local residents,” who gathered outside and held signs reading “Hands off the Quran” and “Our religion is our life.”

The arrest of Zhuravel occurred on May 21 in Volgograd following suspicion of setting fire to a Quran on camera in front of a mosque. The Investigative Committee stated that a video clip of the incident, which was filmed no later than May 19, was posted on an internet portal under the control of Ukraine’s Armed Forces’ Center for Informational and Psychological Operations. During questioning, Zhuravel allegedly admitted to burning the Quran based on directions from Ukrainian intelligence services in exchange for a reward of 10,000 rubles (approximately $125). He claimed to have provided a recording of the act to a Ukrainian intelligence officer.

As a result, Zhuravel has been charged with offending the feelings of religious believers, which carries a maximum prison sentence of three years. The FSB (Federal Security Service) has released a video depicting Zhuravel’s arrest and interrogation; however, independent publication Mediazona has highlighted that the video appears to be heavily edited. Initially, the suspect suggests that he was arrested for filming fighter jets. Still, in response to leading questions from an off-camera individual, he mentions being contacted by “people from Ukraine” who offered him money.

Delivery service employee Nikita Zhuravel, suspected of burning the #Koran near a mosque, was detained in #Volgograd, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation reports.

A criminal case was opened against the detainee for insulting the feelings of believers, which… pic.twitter.com/3DbQEIphRP

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 21, 2023

A “source in a law enforcement department” told RIA Novosti, a state propaganda news agency, that “there is direct involvement of American intelligence” in the case. Accusations against ‘direct US involvement’ brings to mind the decades of Russian-American conflicts where jihadis have been used as weapons against each other. For example, Osama Bin Laden and his followers were initially trained by the CIA to fight Soviet occupation in Afghanistan. So while it is not established that the US or Ukraine motivated this event, it would also not be inconsistent with the past century’s geopolitics to create unrest with a Muslim population to weaken a target.

During a meeting with pro-Russian militaristic journalists and authors of telegram channels, known as “military commissars,” Putin stated, “They will serve their sentences, as stated by the Minister of Justice, in places of deprivation of liberty located in one of the regions of Russia with a predominantly Muslim population.” The move aims to address the outrage that the Quran burning sparked across the country, particularly in the Muslim-majority republic of Chechnya, where thousands took to the streets in protest against the desecration of the sacred text.

However, concerns have been raised by lawyers and activists regarding the safety of individuals transferred to these regions. The decision to move Zhuravel’s case to Chechen investigators has raised the alarm, as there are fears of potential torture or even threats to his life. The Russian Investigative Committee claimed that Zhuravel confessed to the crime in exchange for payment from Ukraine’s intelligence agencies.

Minister of Justice Konstantin Chuichenko proposed the transfer of convicted individuals to regions with a predominantly Muslim population after the verdict was passed. Critics argue that this decision goes against legal principles that require criminal cases to be investigated where the crime was committed. Lawyer Galina Tarasova explained, “The man is sent to the region where, due to the circumstances of this case and the specifics of the region, there is a reasonable risk of torture and even a risk to Zhuravel’s life.”

It is worth noting that earlier this year, Russia condemned the burning of the Quran in Stockholm by Rasmus Paludan, a Danish-Swedish politician. Paludan’s demonstration in Sweden drew condemnation from radical Muslims and Islamic leaders, leading to calls for boycotts and violent protests across the Muslim world. Paludan’s actions also attracted harsh criticism from MMA fighter Khamzat Chimaev, who holds Swedish citizenship but hails from Chechnya.

In response to the Quran burning and the remarks made by Chimaev, Paludan staged a protest in front of the Russian Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he burned the Quran. He criticized Chechnya’s President Ramzan Kadyrov, referring to him as a dictator and accusing him of participating in the torture and murder of his own citizens, especially homosexuals. Paludan’s actions and statements have drawn attention to the dire human rights situation in Chechnya under Kadyrov’s rule.

In a separate incident, a video recently circulated on social media showed an unidentified person burning the Quran on the shore of the Holy Lake in Moscow. The video captioned “Moscow for Russians! Know your place,” prompted outrage and led to an investigation by the Moscow police. The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs discovered the video while monitoring the internet and is actively looking into the matter.

The ongoing controversy surrounding the burning of the Quran has sparked intense reactions among Muslims worldwide. To appease radical Muslim communities within Russia, Putin has taken a significant step by enforcing Sharia-based punishments, including imprisonment, in predominantly Muslim regions. Regrettably, the safety and welfare of individuals accused of Quran burning do not concern the Russian leader, who is indifferent to the possibility of their mistreatment, abuse, or death at the hands of Muslims.