Two Russian citizens, Viktoriya and Igor Filonov, were detained in… (задержать · библия · собор)
Two Russian citizens, Viktoriya and Igor Filonov, were detained in the Ayia Sophia complex in Istanbul on July 13 for reading the Bible inside what is now a functioning mosque. They were released and flown back to Moscow on July 17 after being held in a deportation center.
Consensus
- Two Russian citizens, Viktoriya and Igor Filonov, were detained in Istanbul for reading the Bible at Ayia Sophia.
- The incident occurred on July 13 or 14, with the couple being held in a deportation center starting from July 15.
- They were flown back to Moscow on July 17 at 19:50 local time (same as MSK).
- Turkish authorities cited Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code for inciting hatred or enmity among the population.
- The Ayia Sophia complex was originally a Christian cathedral, converted into a mosque in 1453, became a museum in 1935, and reverted to a mosque status in July 2020.
Points of divergence
- The couple was reportedly surrounded and removed from the mosque after reading the Bible aloud; they were taken to a police station in the Fatih district, then sent to a detention center for foreigners before deportation. — meduza
- The couple was separated upon arrival at the detention center; Igor reported that they had not eaten and felt unwell. — novaya_eu
- The couple was detained for reading the Bible in the museum section of the cathedral, with a potential penalty of up to two years' imprisonment under Article 216. — kommerant
Coverage (20 sources)
- Family couple from Russia arrested in Istanbul for reading the Bible has flown to Moscow — Вести
- Russians detained in Istanbul for reading the Bible in Ayasofya Mosque sent back to Russia — Meduza
- Russians detained in Istanbul for reading the Bible in Hagia Sophia have flown back to Russia — Дождь (Telegram)
- Russians detained in Istanbul's Ayasofya Cathedral for reading the Bible plan to be deported on Friday — ТАСС (Telegram)
- Russian nationals detained in Istanbul to be deported on July 17 — Вечерняя Москва
- Russians arrested for reading the Bible in Hagia Sophia will be deported from Turkey — Коммерсантъ
- Russian citizens detained in Istanbul to be deported on Friday — Вести
- Turkey Resolves Issue of Deporting Russians Who Read the Bible in Hagia Sophia — Вести
- Turkish authorities detained two Russians in the Hagia Sophia cathedral — Вести
- Russian tourists arrested in Istanbul for reading the Bible at Hagia Sophia — Новая газета Европа
- Russians detained in Ayasofya placed in deportation center — Ведомости
- Russian tourists detained for reading the Bible in Ayasofya Mosque in Istanbul; sent to deportation center — Медиазона
- Russian diplomats are investigating the detention of Russians in Hagia Sophia, TASS reported from the consulate — ТАСС (Telegram)
- Russian detained in Istanbul's Hagia Sophia for reading the Bible — Коммерсантъ
- Russian tourists detained for reading the Bible in Hagia Sophia — Дождь
- Found the Bible — ended up in a deportation center. What happened to Russians in Hagia Sophia — Фонтанка
- Russian Consulate to Verify Data on Detention of Russians in Istanbul — Ведомости
- Russian tourists detained in Istanbul for reading the Bible in Hagia Sophia — Дождь (Telegram)
- Russian diplomats are investigating the detention of Russians in Hagia Sophia — Вечерняя Москва
- Russian diplomats are investigating the detention of Russians in Hagia Sophia, TASS reported from the Embassy — ТАСС (Telegram)