Ismail Berdiyev, Mufti of Karachay-Cherkessia, who also headed the Coordination Center of Muslims of the North Caucasus, died.
Berdiyev's death was reported by the Muftiate of Dagestan. The cause of his death was not specified, Kavkaz.Realii reports.
Berdiyev was 70 years old.
Ismail Berdiyev is known for his resonant statements: he called for blowing up the Yeltsin Center for "destroying Russian statehood." In November, he presented the 15-year-old son of Chechen leader Adam Kadyrov with the Order of Merit for the Ummah, first class. In February, Berdiyev received the Order of Glory and Honor, III degree, from the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Mufti of Karachay-Cherkessia actively supported Russia's war against Ukraine.
On his Facebook page, Said Ismagilov recalled some of Berdiyev's statements about the war and Ukraine:
"Remember how two days ago I wrote to you about Mufti Ismail Berdiyev, who said in the State Duma of the Russian Federation: "We must see this operation through. There is no need for any negotiations, even if they agree to surrender. We must completely destroy them. Ukraine shouldn't exist"?
Well, he has just died.
"Ukraine will die" - I. Berdiyev.
"Berdiyev is dead" - Ukraine.
Would you still doubt that God is with us? We are holding on only by His grace.
All the odds considered, we should have perished two years ago. And yet:
- Our enemies shall vanish,
Like dew in the sun.
- We too shall rule, brothers,
our country.
Stay calm, keep your machine gun clean and believe in victory."