In March 2010, the Russian Federation acquired from France a site on the Quai Branly, opposite the Pont de l'Alma in the 7th district of Paris, for construction purposes, under a previous agreement between France and Russia, a Russian Orthodox spiritual and cultural centre which, while applying the traditional canons of the Russian Orthodox Church, must be part of the spirit of the most emblematic architectural achievements of the banks of the Seine.

Under an international competition, the Sade agency’s project, to
the Spanish Manuel Nuñez, in collaboration with the Russian agency Arch Group,
was selected in March 2011. The technical feasibility studies of this
However, there were difficulties in implementing the project.
Work has begun, by mutual agreement between France and Russia, to
that the centre project fully meets the requirements of both the
feasibility of its technical realization only when it is inserted in a site
outstanding heritage.

In agreement with the French authorities, the Russian Federation has therefore
decided to seek an interim suspension of the application for a
that had been tabled. This time will be used to conduct
further studies and consideration of new proposals
to achieve as quickly as possible a project more in line with expectations
and specific requirements related to this project.