Russians detained for reading the Bible at Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia mosque are now back in Russia

The two Russian citizens who were detained for reading the Bible inside Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, a site that functions both as a mosque and a museum, have returned to Russia. The Filonovs were released and flew back to Moscow on July 17, as confirmed by the Russian Consulate General in Istanbul. This incident highlights the complex religious and cultural dynamics in a place that's historically significant and now operates under strict regulations. It also underscores the broader tensions between religious practices and governmental oversight, especially in a globally important historical site.