Moscow, Sep 26 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Russian President Vladimir Putin has defended the image of "Russian girl" which was recently criticised by a senior priest in the Russian Orthodox Church.
Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov), a member of the presidential council for culture and art, said that Russia previously was associated with modest girls who wore their hair in plaits.
But that this image has been transformed into "a girl who drinks beer at a bus stop" and curses in public, the priest said.
While expressing his gratitude for the Russian Orthodox Church's efforts to combat drinking, the Russian president said: "We have many modern, beautiful girls who don't abuse alcohol."