Russian Orthodox Church gives award to Putin for making country “powerful and strong”

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church has presented President Putin with an award for his policies intended to make Russia a leading world power.

The Patriarch of Moscow said the prize was to honour Putin’s efforts to turn Russia into “a powerful and strong country that has self-respect and is respected by others”.
The award was established earlier this year by the World Russian People’s Council, an organisation linked to the Church.