MOSCOW, August 22 - RAPSI. Attorney Dagir Khasavov, who controversially advocated for the establishment of a sharia law court in Russia, is prepared to return to the country on the condition that he is granted state protection, his attorney Sergei Belyak told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI) Wednesday.

In an interview with the Ren-TV channel on April 24, Khasavov proposed establishing a sharia law court in Russia. He said Muslim society would enforce its own rules and any attempt to prevent them from doing so could lead to bloodshed. The lawyer's statements provoked a public uproar.

The prosecutor's office declared that Khasavov sought to incite national hatred and to insult people of other religions. The prosecutor's office concluded that his statements could be considered a call for extremism. In this context, the Justice Ministry's Main Directorate in Moscow filed a petition with the Moscow City Bar Association to strip Khasavov of his legal license. However, the Moscow Bar Association's qualification board declined to do so.

Meanwhile, Khasavov left Russia. The lawyer maintains that his statements were misunderstood and that an organized smear campaign has been launched against him.

Belyak said his client left Russia because of threats, but would like to return home.

"He does want to return. His work and business are waiting for him here, but there are some problems as threats of physical violence against him continue," Belyak noted.

"We have requested state protection and delivered our application to the investigator, but we have not yet received any response," he added.