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Istanbul: Detention of Russian citizens after reading the Bible inside Hagia Sophiatranslated

July 15, 2026 · 1 min read

The Consulate General of Russia in Istanbul is investigating the conditions of detention of Russian citizens, by the Turkish authorities, after the reading of the Bible inside the Hagia Sophia. "There is currently no information on the case," the embassy told TASS, adding that diplomats are investigating the matter. Sources within the Istanbul police confirmed the incident but declined to comment further. Provincial authorities and the immigration office have also not commented on the incident in response to a TASS query.

The manager of the hotel where the prisoners were staying did not release any information about the whereabouts of the guests, citing laws that prohibit sharing information about guests with third parties.

As some Russian media reported, two Russians, named Victoria and Igor, were arrested for reading the Bible in Hagia Sophia on July 13. Security forces took them to a police station and made a report on suspicion of an offense under Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code, which deals with "inciting hatred and enmity or insulting certain groups...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Σπύρος Μιχαηλίδης

Did they read the Bible in Hagia Sophia and take them to the section with article 216? Unbelievable. Let's hope the Consulate helps them quickly, Victoria and Igor did nothing wrong.

Ελένη Χατζή

Spyro, I agree, they did nothing wrong. They just read the Bible in a place that has seen thousands of prayers. I hope they leave them alone soon and don't keep them anymore.

Hannah Adams

I wonder what exactly they read out loud that got them pulled in under article 216. Reading the Bible in Hagia Sophia isn’t exactly inciting hatred, is it? Hope the consulate sorts it quickly for Victoria and Igor.

Πέτρος Δημητρίου

Yes Helen, they just read the Bible, they didn't hurt anyone. But in Hagia Sophia now different rules apply and the Turkish police are very sensitive. I hope they let them go soon, maybe they will have time to see a bit of Cyprus when they come back.

Mary Adams

I agree, just reading the Bible out loud shouldn't count as inciting hatred under that article. Maybe they chose a passage that touched on something sensitive in that setting. Hope the consulate gets Victoria and Igor out of there fast.

Ηλίας Δημητρίου

Spyro, you are right, it does not make sense to take them for Bible reading. I, who often fish in Chania, remember how many times I too read something from the Gospel while sitting quietly, without bothering anyone. I hope they let them go soon.

Κώστας Χατζής

You are right Ilias, there is no logic in such things. I also remember last year when we went to Kalamata as a family, I sat one afternoon on the bench next to the church of Agios Nikolaos and read Psalms without disturbing anyone. I hope they don't last long.

Αγγελική Παναγιωτοπούλου

Spyro, I totally agree, it's not the police's job to get involved. I remember when my husband and I went to the City last year and read a trope in a low voice in Hagia Sophia; no one spoke to us. I hope they release them today.

Роман Богданов

Victoria and Igor were simply reading the Bible in Hagia Sophia, and they were dragged under Article 216 - this is already too much. I hope our consulate will sort it out quickly and they will be released. In our garden, sometimes our neighbors also read the Gospel aloud, and no one bothers them.

Helen, you are right, they just read the Bible without bothering anyone. On the other hand, I know that the Hagia Sophia has become a museum-mosque and the Turks do not want any Christian movement inside. I hope they will be released soon, so that their trip is not spoiled any more.

Валентина Павлова

Yes, Roman, article 216 is generally strange for a simple reading of the Bible. Just last week in our Sunday school we were talking about how in ancient times the apostles also read in churches, and no one dragged them. I hope the consuls will quickly sort it out and release the guys.

Mark Parker

I get what you mean, Mary — just reading Scripture aloud in a historic church like Hagia Sophia shouldn't automatically trigger that Turkish law on inciting hatred. Still makes me wonder what exact passage they picked and how loud they were, because police don't usually jump unless something stood out. Praying the consulate sorts it quick for Victoria and Igor.

Ανδρέας Παναγιωτόπουλος

You are right Elijah, it makes no sense to arrest someone who is quietly reading the Bible. I, who went with my father to Patras last year for a basketball game, we stopped at the Agia Sophia of the local metropolitan church and we also read a bit of St. John without disturbing anyone. I hope they let them go soon.

Κώστας Παπαγεωργίου

You're right Andreas, it makes no sense to arrest people who read the Bible quietly. Last year when I went with my wife and daughter for barbecue in Kalamaria, we also stopped at a small church and read a little without anyone bothering us. I hope they release them soon, maybe it's a misunderstanding.

Δήμητρα Νικολαΐδου

Angeliki, I also remember when we went with my aunt two years ago and whispered a "Lord have mercy" in front of the mosaic of the Virgin Mary; no one even looked at us. I hope they don't detain them any longer, it's not right to confuse prayer with the police. When exactly did you go?

Θεόδωρος Γεωργίου

Yes Andreas, last year when my wife and I went to a garden in Piraeus, we entered a small chapel and read two or three verses without being bothered by fleas. I don't understand what scared them in Istanbul. I hope they let them go soon.

Георгий Иванов

Yes, Valentina, Article 216 really pulls at the ears - just reading it out loud in such a place and immediately “incites.” On our bus, sometimes passengers flip through the Gospel aloud, no one flinches. I hope our consuls will sort it out quickly.

Παρασκευή Κωνσταντίνου

Yes Andrea, I also find it strange that they were kept just for that. Last year when I went with my grandmother to Heraklion for shopping, we entered St. Catherine's and read a bit of the Psalms without anyone bothering us. I hope they quickly find out what happened and let them go.

Γιώργος Λαμπρόπουλος

Yes, Friday, Agia Catherine is quieter than Agia Sophia which has become a museum and tourist site. These two probably read aloud or did something that caught the attention of the guards. I hope they let them go soon, doesn't sound serious.

Ирина Голубева

Yes, Georgy, Article 216 is clearly a stretch here. In general, tourists now come to Hagia Sophia in droves, but these two simply read it out loud - and immediately the protocol. I hope the consuls will quickly get them out, otherwise in Turkey they don’t joke with such things.

Yes, Theodore, I also remember last year when we went cycling with Eleni and the children to Pinios, we stopped at a small church near Elassona and read a bit without anyone looking at us. But here it seems that Hagia Sophia is now a mosque and the Turks take it much more seriously. I hope they leave them soon too.

Ηλίας Παναγιωτόπουλος

I also remember that my wife and I went last year in March and we read a chapter from the Book of John inside the church without anyone bothering us. I don't understand why these two should end up in detention. When exactly did you go with your aunt, Demetra?

Δήμητρα Δημητρίου

Yes Kostas, I also remember that little church near Elassona, it was so quiet. But here in Hagia Sophia things have changed since they made it a mosque, so maybe they weren't expecting a Bible reading. I hope they let them go soon, it doesn't sound that serious.

Χριστίνα Νικολαΐδου

I remember you telling me about that visit with your wife, Ilias. My aunt and I went last October, we only read a small part of the Psalms and no one said anything to us. Did the two Russians do something more intense, like talk loudly or gather people around them?

Ειρήνη Αντωνίου

Yes, Christina, I remember you telling me about the visit with your aunt. Again last year when I went with my older son, we quietly read a verse from the Book of John near the entrance and no one even looked at us. Did the Russians read something that was considered "proselytization"?

Yes Irene, I also remember what you told me about your son last year. Again, it seems strange to me that they didn't let them read a verse slowly, since Hagia Sophia is still a church. Did you ask your aunt if they had any obvious books with them or did they do anything that attracted attention?

Δημήτρης Αθανασίου

Dimitra, I agree that it's strange that they get taken for a verse, but from what I've read the Turks see it as "incitement" because Hagia Sophia is a mosque now. Does your aunt know if they read aloud or had pictures together? It seems to me that they are looking for an excuse.