RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, PUTIN BESTOWS PARENTING GLORY AWARD ON JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

MOSCOW, Russia – Russian President, Vladimir Putin may not be a hater of Jehovah’s Witnesses after all. Putin who has been criticized for recent ban on activities of the JWs in Russia on May 17 did what many thought would be unlikely when he honoured two members of Jehovah’s Witnesses, with the Parental Glory award.

The recipients are Valeriy and Tatiana Novic, two JWs from Karelia. They were honoured for raising eight children during a ceremony at the Kremlin on the eve of International Children’s Day.

The Order of “Parental Glory” was instituted by presidential decree in May 2008.

Russia awards this honor to parents who have raised at least seven children and have shown extraordinary care for their family’s health and education, as well as their physical, mental, and moral development.

“Families awarded the Order are considered models that strengthen the family institution”. The JWs said on their website.

David A. Semonian, a spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses at their world headquarters, states: “We view this award as an acknowledgment that the free Bible education provided by Jehovah’s Witnesses helps parents and their children to be productive citizens not only in Russia but all over the world.

“We hope that this award presented by President Putin is considered on July 17, 2017, when the Russian Supreme Court reviews the decision to liquidate the Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia.”, he said.