On May 14, Salakh Mezhiev, the Advisor to the Head of Chechnya, Mufti of the Chechen Republic, and Chairman of the Coordination Center of Muslims of the North Caucasus, held a press conference dedicated to the Hajj, where he addressed issues surrounding pedestrian pilgrimage, visa regulations, and the participation of women.

During the press conference, Mezhiev compared the challenges of performing the Hajj on foot or by bicycle with the conveniences of traveling by airplane. Mezhiev emphasized that opting for a pedestrian pilgrimage creates unnecessary hardships and logistical problems, stating, "A person who performs Hajj on foot or reaches the holy places by bicycle creates a problem for himself. If God has given us the opportunity to perform Hajj with the help of an airplane and made it easy for us, it is better to perform it in an easy way."

He pointed out that many foot pilgrims attempt to enter Mecca without proper documentation or Hajj visas, describing most of them as illegal entrants. Mezhiev explained that Saudi Arabia enforces a quota system, assigning a fixed number of pilgrimage permits per country, with Russian Muslims receiving 25,000 quotas annually. He underlined that bypassing these quotas to enter the holy lands is unacceptable and noted that Saudi authorities maintain strict control over the entry and stay of Muslims during the Hajj season, often imprisoning and deporting those violating the rules. "I urge Muslims to perform Hajj properly, with all the obligatory documents," Mezhiev stated.

Mezhiev also remarked that comprehensive preparations for the Hajj were underway, prioritizing both the safety and comfort of pilgrims. Addressing one of the central issues discussed, the participation of women in the Hajj, he dismissed the misconception that women must be accompanied by a male guardian. Mezhiev clarified that "Islamic scholars agree that a woman can perform Hajj without a companion if she is in the company of other women," adding that a minimum of three women in a group is sufficient for such arrangements.