The construction of the cathedral mosque in Simferopol is coming to an end and will be completed and handed over to the Spiritual Administration of Muslims next year, Ervin Musayev, Advisor to the Crimean Mayor, told RIA Novosti on Sunday.
"Today we can say with confidence that the construction of the cathedral mosque in Simferopol is entering its final phase. The mosque will be completed next year and handed over to the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Crimean headed by Mufti Emirali Ablayev. This will be a real gift to the Muslims of the republic and the country, to all Russians regardless of their nationality and religion," Musayev said during the celebration of Crimean Tatar Flag Day in Simferopol.
The Advisor to the Crimean Mayor said that the construction of any building took time, especially the construction of the cathedral mosque. According to Musayev, the construction period was affected by the pandemic, when the authorities had to adjust plans to build the mosque.
"A comfortable environment for Crimean Muslims is gradually being created in the region. Our state and its institutions support and consolidate the development of the Crimean Tatar people, the community as a whole. There are schools where the Crimean Tatar language is taught, and a lot of religious and cultural events are held here. Every Muslim understand that without the support of the Republic's Head Sergey Aksyonov and President Vladimir Putin, such serious and important for Crimean Tatars projects as the construction of the cathedral mosque could not be implemented," Musayev said.
The Advisor to the Crimean leader said that today the mosque was 80% ready, and work on the improvement of the territory was continuing.
He said that the Muslim community of the region supported the course of President Putin and the regional authorities.
"Crimean Tatars occupy their rightful place in the huge family of peoples of the Russian Federation, freely practice the Muslim religion, preserve and multiply cultural traditions, which was not the case when Crimean was part of Ukraine," Ervin Musayev added.
The construction of the cathedral mosque in Simferopol began several years ago.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from RIA Novosti