https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/10/world/europe/hagia-sophia-mosque-turkey.html
Commentators here in France say its the last options Erdogan has for his dieing regime. Turkish economy is collapsing. His islamist support backfired. His border opening for refugees did not work.
Now all he has is to stir up religious hate.
I visited the Hagia Sofia in 2015 with my parents and its an amazing building. I know it has so much importance for orthodox christians, like St. Peter in Rome for us catholics.
How is russias opinion regarding that? Russia is orthodox.
One thing i might add...that France did not help Constantinople when the turks attacked it is biggest shame of our history.
Our country could have prevented that. But we sat still and watched, just for political games.