The Central Spiritual Board for the Russian Karaim Abroad is the Orthodox Jewish Beit Din of Haverim based in Israel which provides registry services as the Moetzet Hakhamim (Council of Sages) for all Russian-Karaims who promote their Subbotnik (Sabbathian) "Judaic but not Jewish" religious identity in the diaspora. Unlike other Karaims, Russian-Karaim Subbotniks identify as Messianic Noahite Ishmaelim and do not pretend to be Jewish even though they support the authority of an Orthodox Jewish Moetzet Hakhamim. This distinguishes Russian-Karaim Subbotniks from other Karaims who claim to be their own ethnic group, were exempt from the holocaust, do not accept coverts and who have often displayed Antisemitism towards Russian Karaim Subbotniks especially for example at Babi Yar. The term Russian Karaims was applied to anyone like those acephalous Old Believers in any part of the Russian Empire at its greatest extent who began to follow the laws of the Toshav Hassidei Umot HaOlam according to Judaism. They were the Messianic Noahites of the Heartland.

Many Russian Karaim Subbotniks believe that they carry the sparks of the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel and identify several historical groups on the territory of the Russian Empire as having had similar beliefs in the past such as for example the Hvalis.

Over the decades, many have been granted citizenship in the modern State of Israel despite their Messianic beliefs and not being Jewish.