Russia's North Caucasus spends millions on spiritual education amid economic crisis
Authorities across Russia’s North Caucasus have unveiled public contracts worth over ₽20 million ($265,000) for projects focused on spiritual and moral education. The initiatives include lectures, sermons and forums aimed at promoting traditional values. Ingushetia’s government has allocated the largest share, with a single contract valued at ₽17.5 million ($232,000). Ingushetia’s latest contract covers events such as lectures in schools and Friday sermons in mosques. This follows earlier spending of around ₽15 million ($200,000) on religious projects, including Islamic universities and Orthodox church services. The region faces economic challenges, with an average monthly salary of just ₽46,600 ($600)—the lowest in Russia—as of February 2026.
Other republics have launched similar tenders. Daghestan announced a ₽2 million ($27,000) contract for at least five discussion platforms titled *Religion and the Modern World*. Kabarda-Balkaria is organising a forum on traditional values, while Chechnya plans a conference called *Talks about the Motherland*. Economic struggles persist in Ingushetia, where 25.6% of the population lives below the poverty line. Unemployment reached 25.5% in late 2025, raising questions about the allocation of funds for spiritual initiatives amid financial hardship.
The contracts highlight a regional push to strengthen moral and religious education through state-funded programmes. With Ingushetia’s economy under strain, the spending reflects a priority on cultural and spiritual projects despite ongoing financial difficulties. The total value of these initiatives across the North Caucasus now exceeds ₽20 million ($265,000).
