Chechnya’s mufti, Salah Mezhiev, has said that Chechens are obliged to pray for the republic’s Head, Ramzan Kadyrov. He made the statement on 5 October at Kadyrov’s inauguration ceremony, which took place in Grozny on his 50th birthday. A video of the mufti’s speech was published by the pro-government Instagram account chpgrozniy.
‘We must understand that we should give thanks to the Almighty and appreciate what He has given us. As Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal said, “If I had only one prayer, I would pray for the ruler”. Therefore, by the will of Allah, we must pray for him and appreciate him’, Mezhiev said in comments to Chechen television channels and the federal channel Rossiya.
The mufti described the inauguration itself as ‘a blessing from the Almighty’.
Ramzan Kadyrov was re-elected head of Chechnya in the election held on 20 September 2026. According to official figures, he received 99.85% of the vote, with turnout at 95.19%. The two other candidates, Ismail Denilkhanov of A Just Russia — For Truth and Khalid Nakaev of the Communist Party, each received 0.05%. Kadyrov has led the republic since 2007.
OC MediaElizaveta Chukharova
Salah Mezhiev became Chechnya’s mufti in 2014. He also heads the Coordination Centre for Muslims of the North Caucasus. In his public statements, the mufti regularly supports Kadyrov’s political positions and presents his actions as consistent with religious values.
In October 2023, Mezhiev said that the participation of Russian troops in the war against Ukraine was equivalent to a great jihad. He claimed that those fighting on Russia’s side were fighting against the ‘enemies of Allah’ and compared their participation in the war to the struggle for the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
That same month, Mezhiev publicly backed Kadyrov’s statements on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. The mufti called on the Muslim ummah to support the Palestinians and expressed his full support for the Chechen leader’s position.
In April 2017, Mezhiev became embroiled in a controversy over reports by the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta (‘The New Newspaper’) about the persecution in Chechnya of men suspected of being gay by security forces. After a meeting of Chechen clergy adopted a resolution promising ‘retribution’ against the journalists, the mufti said it referred to ‘retribution from Almighty Allah’. He also said that the journalists should fear prosecution under Russian law. Novaya Gazeta interpreted the resolution as a threat against its staff.
In October 2025, Mezhiev’s remarks triggered a dispute with representatives of the Jewish community. Speaking on Chechen state television, he called Jews ‘enemies of Allah’ and linked them to the origins of atheism. Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Berel Lazar, called on the Muslim community to explain the remarks. Mezhiev responded that his words had been mistranslated and accused ‘European atheists’ and ‘Ukrainian Satanists’ of spreading a misleading interpretation.