S/CN.4/1989/44 paqe 49 81. The Special Rapporteur visited Moscow and Zagorsk at the invitation of the Russian Orthodox Church to attend the festivities commemorating the millenary of the introduction of Christianity into Russia, which were held from 4 to 16 June 1988. The festivities themselves and the statements by the main Soviet authorities qave qrounds for optimism reqardinq the improvement of relations between the various Churches and the Government, not only as reqards the Orthodox religion, which is traditional in Russia, but also the other religions practised in Soviet territory. The scope and impact of these commemorations are a positive aspect of the policy of openness and transparency introduced in the Soviet Union, the influence of which is already beinq felt in several other European countries.