On 29th of March, the first Deputy Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Executive Secretary of the Muslim International Forum, Director of the Center for Islamic Studies of St. Petersburg State University, Professor Damir Mukhetdinov, was awarded the diploma of Doctor of Islamic Theology at St. Petersburg State University. This is the first Russian diploma of Doctor of Islamic Theology issued by a state institution.

The significance of the event in his congratulatory speech was emphasized by the rector of St. Petersburg State University, Professor Nikolai Kropachev, who in a solemn atmosphere threw on the doctor's mantle and put on a cap on the newly-made doctor. Let us remind you that the defense of the first doctoral dissertation on Islamic theology in the history of Russia took place in the walls of the oldest university in Russia in October 2020.

In his response speech, Damir Mukhetdinov thanked the members of the Dissertation Council and the university staff for their support in organizing the defense in the context of the pandemic and related restrictions. He expressed hope that in the future Muslim theologians will make a worthy contribution to the development of theology, Islamic studies and Oriental studies at the University of St. Petersburg.