Russian authorities distance themselves from Kadyrov’s accusations against Israel

The statements voiced by Ramzan Kadyrov about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict are not the Russia’s official position, states Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for the President of Russia. Salakh Mezhiev, Mufti of Chechnya, accused the Israeli authorities of terror against Palestinians.

Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya, called on the Israeli authorities to apologize to Muslims after clashes between the Israeli police and Palestinians on May 7 and 8, which resulted in more than 280 casualties, including visitors to the Al-Aqsa mosque. Palestinian riots began against the background of an Israeli court’s decision to evict several Palestinian families.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) did not rest responsibility on any of the parties to the conflict for its escalation. “We strongly condemn attacks on civilians, regardless of their nationality and religion. We call on the parties to show restraint,” the Russian MFA declares on its official website.

Chechen Mufti Salakh Mezhiev called the actions of the Israeli authorities an act of terrorism against Muslims. The religious leader accused the Israeli police of “pogrom and atrocities” in the Al-Aqsa mosque, the “Chechnya Today” reports. “This is not only an act of disrespect for two billion Muslims, but also for the mosque, which is the third shrine of Islam, and the holy month of Ramadan,” Salakh Mezhiev emphasized.