Church property confiscated by the Soviet...

The statement comes as the government works on a bill to return religious archives, relics and buildings to their original owners.

The prospect has raised alarm among art historians and museum administrators, who say that no feasible scheme has yet been worked out and worry about uncertainties over who will be responsible for looking after the property.

Alexander Beglov, who heads a governmental working group on maintaining objects of cultural significance, admitted there were "some problems" but stressed that they must work towards more viable legal structures.

"Perhaps it shouldn"t happen so quickly, but I think there are good reasons for it and a tendency towards it," Beglov said.

"My personal opinion is positive. [The property] should be returned," he added.

The issue was raised during a meeting between Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill earlier this year, when they discussed plans to change

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