Russia's Lower House Approves Bill Allowing Orthodox Church To Reclaim Nationalized Property

Reuters reports that yesterday the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's Parliament, adopted a bill authorizing the Russian Orthodox Church to reclaim up to 17,000 building and churches nationalized after the 1917 Bolshevik revolution. Under the bill, the Church cannot reclaim museum pieces or public buildings. The bill easily passed on its second and main reading in the lower house. It must still pass a perfunctory third reading before going to the upper house (the Federation Council) for approval and then being signed into law by the president. (Background on legislative process).