Moscow, December 7, 2011
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin again expressed hope that bringing the Belt of the Mother of God to Russia would positively influence demographic situation in the country.
"The Belt of the Holy Virgin is going across the country. Priests believe it should help (increase birth rates - IF)," Putin said at a meeting with his supporters, which he conducted together with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
He also said that Orthodox clerics told him that representatives of other religions, including Muslims, came to venerate the Belt.
"Priests asked them why. They answered: "God knows, what if it helps," Putin said
