The Russian Orthodox Church has sent a representative to the central Vladimir Region to investigate reports of child abuse, a church official said Thursday.
Media reports earlier said the convent's nuns victimized teenagers from a local orphanage, beating them with belts, forcing them to make numerous bows, eat salt, as well as depriving them of food and sleep as "punishments".
"It is too early to say anything. Too little time has passed. We are now studying the girls' testimonies," Hegumen Savva said.
The Russian Prosecutor General's Office and Pavel Astakhov, the child's ombudsman under the Russian president, are already investigating the claims. Astakhov said Wednesday he has sent an aide to the convent to check the abuse reports.
The convent was investigated a year ago after allegations of mistreatment, but no action was taken as the claims were not proven.
RIA Novosti
