Russian Couple Detained in Istanbul for Reading Bible in Hagia Sofia

July 15, 2026 The Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, Turkey, Adli Wahid (CC BY-SA 3.0) A Russian couple faces deportation from Turkey after they were detained for reading a bible inside Istanbul’s historic Hagia Sophia, a sixth-century church that was reconverted to a mosque several years ago. The couple, identified as Viktoria and Igor, were escorted out of the Hagia Sophia on Monday and charged with inciting hatred or hostility among the population, Ostorozhno Novosti reported on Tuesday. By Wednesday, Turkish law enforcement authorities had moved the couple to a detention facility to await deportation. The state-run TASS news agency confirmed the arrests through anonymous Turkish police sources. Russia’s Foreign Ministry told Ostorozhno Novosti that its consulate in Istanbul had contacted the couple’s attorney. Originally built as a cathedral in the Christian Byzantine Empire, the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. In 1934, it was designated as a museum amid secularizing reforms. However, in 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan revoked that museum status and reopened the UNESCO site as a mosque for Muslim worship. Russia’s Orthodox Church condemned the reconversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque as a “threat to the whole of Christian civilization.” Today, the Hagia Sophia’s upper gallery is still utilized as a museum area. According to Ostorozhno Novosti, this is where Turkish security personnel caught Igor reading the Bible. Read more about: Turkey Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Putin Tells Erdogan Hopes for Deal to Boost Economic Cooperation "I hope that today we will be able to sign a relevant memorandum on the development of our trade and economic ties," Putin said. Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish Ministers to Meet Thursday Turkey has sought to mediate between Russia and Ukraine and offered on several occasions to host talks at leaders' level or technical discussions. Erdogan Tells Putin Won't Accept Moves on Ukraine's Sovereignty NATO member Turkey, which has friendly ties to both Russia and Ukraine, has sought to position itself as a mediator in the crisis. Armenia, Turkey to Resume First Flights in 2 Years The countries with a long history of hostility are taking cautious efforts to normalize strained ties.