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The President attended celebrations to mark the Jewish Hanukkah holiday at the Jewish Community Centre in Moscow. In September, Mr Putin had taken part in the centre’s opening ceremony. The centre was built on the site of a wooden synagogue that burnt down in a fire in 1991.

Speaking at the function, Mr Putin said nothing could prevent Russia from developing democratically. The President noted that over the course of Russian history, many faiths had not been able to openly profess their beliefs and worship at their shrines. He added that today Russia was developing into a widely tolerant state.

The President was given a Hanukkah menorah.