Putin Attends a Ceremony to Open Moscow's New Mosque

A volunteer and participant of Moscow Grand Mosque's opening ceremony stands outside the mosque in Moscow, Sept. 23.



The new mosque, which was erected on the site of the city's original mosque built in 1904 and which has been under reconstruction since 2005, will be able to accommodate up to 10,000 people simultaneously, according to local media.



Read more: One of Europe's Biggest Mosques to Open in Moscow

President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a ceremony to open the Moscow Grand Mosque in Moscow, Sept. 23.

President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a ceremony to open the Moscow Grand Mosque.

(R-L) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan walk to attend a ceremony.

Russian First Deputy Head of Presidential Administration Vyacheslav Volodin (first row L-R), Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, President Vladimir Putin, Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia Ravil Gainutdin, Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov and other officials attend a ceremony.

President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan (2nd R) listen to Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia Ravil Gainutdin (R) during a tour around the Moscow Grand Mosque after an opening ceremony.

People listen to President Vladimir Putin as he delivers a speech at a ceremony to open the Moscow Grand Mosque.

An Interior Ministry member stands guard near the Moscow Grand Mosque before an opening ceremony.