NOVO-OGARYOVO. March 14 (Interfax) - The number of orphans with no parental custody in Russia is decreasing year to year, however the number of children in orphanages whose parents are still alive is growing, Russian children's rights commissioner Pavel Astakhov said at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

Putin asked Astakhov whether the number of orphans was declining in Russia.

"The number of orphans with no parental custody is decreasing in the country every year