From the moment when people who professed Islam formed a part of the Russian Empire, the question of position of Mohammedan population as a part of the orthodox state has arisen sharply. In the government’s view it was Muslim clergy who had influence on the foreign population and could help to build national state with further merge of a foreign component to Russian population. A number of measures to control Muslim priests are imposed for this purpose.

Key words: Muslims, Islam, clergy, provincial authorities, mosque, Western Siberia.