[1][2] Sikh students were invited to study in the Soviet Union through cultural exchange programs starting in the 1950s, during which time they were granted temporary resident status.

Cultural exchange programs declined following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, but immigration numbers began to trend upward again by the late 1990s.

[3] Prior to the construction of a gurdwara, Sikhs in Moscow would meet to worship at a rented canteen hall.

[3] As of 2020, the number of Sikhs in Russia is estimated to be between 300 and 1,000, and a significant portion of this population is made up of Afghan refugees.

Approximately 100 Sikhs attend Sunday prayers here each week, though this number doubles during Gurpurb celebrations.