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First Chairwoman of the Austrian National Council Barbara Prammer took part in the ceremony.

Following the wreath-laying ceremony, Mr Putin spent some time talking with war veterans living in Austria who had come to lay flowers at the monument.

President Vladimir Putin visited the Church of St Nicholas in Vienna, which is being restored with funds provided by Russia. Bishop of Vienna and Austria Ilarion, who represents the Russian Orthodox Church in European international organisations, told the President about the restoration work which has been going on for three-and-a-half years now, mostly funded by the Russian state. Financial support is also coming from the company Gazexport.

The church was closed between 1914 and 1945, when Russia and Austria had no diplomatic relations. It opened again in 1945 after the liberation of Vienna and the belfry received a new main bell with the inscription ‘Gift of the victorious Red Army to the St Nicholas Cathedral in Vienna’.

Mr Putin said that the question of the Russian Orthodox Church’s possibilities of carrying out its work throughout all of Austria was discussed at his talks with the Austrian leadership the day before.

The official visit concluded with Mr Putin and Lyudmila Putina having a brief conversation at the airport with Austrian President Heinz Fischer and his wife Margit, who came to see them off. Mr Putin thanked Mr Fischer for the warm reception he was given in Austria.