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Russian law does not restrict rights of sexual minorities

Russian legislation can set example to other countries, Federation Council speaker sas

© ITAR-TASS/Ruslan Shamukov

OSLO, December 05. /ITAR-TASS/. There has not been in Russia a single occasion of infringement upon the rights of sexual minorities or any other minorities, Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the Federation Council upper house of Russian parliament, said on Thursday, answering the question of Norwegian reporters about alleged infringement upon the rights of sexual minorities by Russian legislation.

Matviyenko said that “all this talk are myths and legends which, because of the lack of specific information, cause perplexity.” “I do officially declare that there is no discrimination by law against sexual minorities or any other minorities,” Matviyenko said.

The speaker of the Federation Council stressed that Russian laws “can set an example to other countries where there still exists a number of infringements upon the rights of sexual minorities, including the ban on profession.”

Matviyenko said there is not a single example of discrimination against sexual minorities in Russia. “I can cite many examples when representatives of sexual minorities work in various areas, experiencing no restrictions,” she said.

The speaker said the Russian law discussed in Europe refers to the protection of children against information that can be harmful to their health.

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