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Russian lawmaker says gay-propaganda ban should be in place during Sochi Olympics

Earlier, Russian media circulated reports that the gay-propaganda ban would not be applicable to athletes and guests during the Olympic Games

Photo ITAR-TASS/Ruslan Shamukov

Photo ITAR-TASS/Ruslan Shamukov

MOSCOW, August 2 (Itar-Tass) - Russia’s law prohibiting propaganda of homosexual relations should be in force during the Winter Olympic Game in Russia’s resort city of Sochi in 2014, deputy chairman of the State Duma lower parliament house committee for physical culture and sports Dmitry Svishchev told Itar-Tass on Friday.

Earlier, Russian media circulated reports that the gay-propaganda ban would not be applicable to athletes and guests during the Olympic Games. “I think we must abide by the laws that are in force in Russia. No matter how what is the scale of the event, if a law is in force, it must be abidden by,” Svishchev said.

He also commented on Europe’s negative reacting to the Russian law. “Regrettably, Europe often offers inadequate reaction to what is going on in Russia,” he said. “Why should we orient ourselves to European countries? Are we supposed to live by the rules adopted there? We have our own law, our own path of development which we should follow. Naturally, it will be displeasing if guests and participants in the Olympic Games should offer a tough reaction to this decision, but this is our country and it is inadmissible to interfere into domestic affairs of a sovereign state.”

The federal law banning propaganda of homosexual relations among the minors was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in late June 2013.

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