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Kremlin Official Claims Foreign Interference In Russia's Islamic Schools


MOSCOW -- A Kremlin official has expressed concern that foreign secret services are interfering in Islamic schools in Russia.

Presidential-administration official Aleksei Grishin made the claim several times while addressing a conference on religious education in Moscow on December 2.

Grishin neither elaborated on his statement nor mentioned any countries, though RFE/RL correspondents reported that Grishin said several students at religious schools have been expelled after "attempts by some foreign agents to recruit them were revealed."

He also complained that students in Russia's Islamic schools neglect the Russian language and study Arabic.

Russia's federal government has been increasing its control over Islamic schools and mosques in the last several years.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

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