Interfax: Russian deputy premier attempts to allay gay fears ahead of Sochi Olympics

(Interfax – August 7, 2013) Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitriy Kozak has said that there can be no infringement of the rights of people of nontraditional sexual orientation during the Sochi Winter Olympics, privately-owned Russian news agency Interfax reported on 7 August.

“There will be no infringement of (the rights of) persons on the grounds of sexual orientation during the Olympics, before the Olympics, or after the Olympics. Legislation does not envisage this,” Interfax quoted Kozak as telling journalists in Sochi.

Kozak also said that today he received official explanation from the law-enforcement bodies and the Justice Ministry regarding the areas of application of the law banning “gay propaganda”.

“No-one should have any fears. Anyone can go about their private life, including popularizing its advantages and attractiveness among adults, but without touching children,” Interfax further quoted Kozak as saying, when commenting on US President Barack Obama’s statement that it is impermissible to infringe on the rights of gays and lesbians during the Sochi Olympics.

Kozak also commented on a call by German Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger for Europeans to think about boycotting the Sochi Olympics over the adoption of the law banning gay propaganda in Russia. Kozak said: “This is a statement by private individuals. I think that on Russian soil, too, one could find activists who could put forward such proposals. Thank God, such proposals are not being voiced at the government, state level, and I very much hope that in the history of Olympic games there will be no more calls by whoever to boycott such an event as the Olympics.”

The deputy prime minister once again explained that the law banning gay propaganda has noting to do with persecution of people on the grounds of their sexual orientation. “The law only prescribes not to engage in such propaganda and not to carry out such actions among minors. In the event that such activities and appeals are aimed exclusively at the target audience, at children, where advantages and attractiveness of this kind of sex are being recounted, then – I’m sorry – it is administratively – not criminally – punishable by way of a fine starting from R4,000 (about 121 dollars),” Interfax quoted Kozak as saying.