Russian Moslem Region of Ingushetia Wants to Allow Men Up to Four Wives

an aide in his office said. Aushev, who has only one wife, called for Russia‘s parliament to approve changes to allow the move under Russian federal law. The decree is based on a traditional Islamic practice allowing men to have up to four wives. Islam has been on the rise in Russia‘s Caucasus region in recent years after being discouraged during officially atheist Soviet times. In the breakaway region of Chechnya, at least one prominent local politician, Movladi Udugov, has two wives. Flamboyant Russian nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who is said to pride himself on his sexual virility, has also called for Russia to change its laws to allow polygamy.