MOSCOW, November 19 - RAPSI. The Russian Orthodox Church does not support the initiative to create prayer rooms at schools, the Vedomosti daily has reported on Monday. Vladimir Legoyda, the spokesperson of the Moscow patriarchate, was reported as having made the statement in an interview with the Echo of Moscow radio station.

The introduction of the amendments to the law on education does not allow special premises to be built as prayer rooms in schools, Legoyda said.

He added that the government - and not the Russian Orthodox Church - is introducing the amendments to the law.

However, RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday that the bill amends the law on the freedom of conscience and religious associations and permits schools to grant believers a special area for praying. The bill was adopted by the State Duma in the first reading.

"The amendment, in short, states that divine services and religious protests may be held in a religious building located on the area of a state educational institution, and also in premises allocated by the administration upon the request of the students and their parents," Ksenia Chernega, one of the document's sponsors and the head of the Moscow patriarchate's legal service, said.