I wouldn’t want a state sponsored church, not matter how humane. But clearly there’s a lot more individual freedom in Russia now, as long as you don’t challenge Putie. This is a guy who isn’t above dosing inconvenient journalists with thorium.
I’m sure one of Vlad’s biggest worries is Russia’s negative birth rate. Since the Orthodox church is against birth control, that has to be a reason to promote the Church.
Well, I don’t suggest a state denomination either, though a general Christianity would do a lot of good. State denominations end up not being good either for the state or for the denomination.