Activities of the state administration bodies of the USSR and leaders of Muslim religious boards on establishing of All-Union Muslim Center

The article describes the activities of the Council for Religious Affairs and Muslim Religious Boards on establishing of All-Union Muslims Religious Board. The author indicates an attitude of different Soviet officials and Muslim leaders towards establishing of joint Muslims center. Recently unclassified archival records show the specific attitude towards the implementation of the project. The similar project was intended during the Russian Empire period. According to the author the Council for Religious Affairs took part in political game of the party-state power of the USSR. Exacerbation of relations with Israel stimulated the USSR leaders to make the final choice in favor of Muslim states, which caused demonstrative pressure on Jewish people inside the USSR and, on the contrary, exemplary good attitude towards Muslims in order to create a positive image of the Soviet Union in the Muslim East. As to the author’s point of view, the idea of establishing of joint Islamic high council was unnecessary simply because joint сenter of Muslims of the USSR had started its activities at least from the middle 1944. Namely the Council for Religious Affairs in spite of all its downsides, caused by ideology prevailed in the Soviet society, during all its time had performed as All-Union center of Muslims. Due to the Council for Religious Affairs all religious boards were able to consolidate their activities and satisfy to certain extend the needs of Muslims of the USSR. In the final part of the article the author presents his own point of view regarding the idea of creation the Joint Council for Religious Affairs under current circumstances.