Responding to questions over an
anti-gay law approved in June, Russian President Vladimir Putin on
Friday insisted gays can feel “at ease” during the Sochi Games
but added that they must “leave the children in peace.”
Russia's law prohibits the promotion of
“gay propaganda” to minors, effectively shutting down pubic
demonstrations of support for LGBT rights in Russia.
Speaking on Friday during a visit to
Sochi, Putin insisted that gay people face no discrimination in
Russia.
“We have no ban on nontraditional
sexual relations,” Putin
said. “We have a ban on propaganda of homosexuality and
pedophilia, I want to underline that, on propaganda among minors.”
“We aren't banning anything, we
aren't rounding up anyone, we have no criminal punishment for such
relations unlike many other countries,” he added. “One can feel
relaxed and at ease, but please leave the children in peace.”