Russia to enforce anti-gay laws during Olympics
Russia’s sports minister said Thursday that the country will enforce its new anti-gay laws during the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.
The law, which was signed by President Vladimir Putin in late June, bans “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations,” including gay pride rallies and speaking to children about homosexuality.
“An athlete of nontraditional sexual orientation isn’t banned from coming to Sochi,” Russia’s sports minister Vitaly Mutko said in an interview with R-Sport. “But if he goes out into the streets and starts to propagandize, then of course he will be held accountable.”
According to the new laws, a foreign citizen who violates Russia’s anti-gay policies can be fined up to $3,000, spend up to 15 days in prison, face deportation and denial of reentry into Russia.
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