The Muslim Communities of Yaroslavl and Kostroma and Their Religious Practices in Soviet and Post-Soviet Russia

The rapid growth of Muslims in Russian cities with predominantly non-Muslim populations was noted after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The north-east region of Central Russia is one of the most remarkable in this case, as it is commonly associated with the Orthodox culture, despite some local Muslims (Tatars) existing there from the 16th century. Their life in the Soviet and Post-Soviet period is also of interest, as there is a lack of documented information on it. Hence, the significant sources for this analysis are the interviews which were collected during the number of expeditions during 2018-2020. The main purpose of this research is the study of the features of narratives about the past of the Muslims of Yaroslavl and Kostroma with an emphasis on their religious practices. All in all, the analysis of Yaroslavl and Kostroma allow to sharpen the focus on the specificities of each region and draw comparative conclusions about Muslim communities.