Russian President Vladimir Putin promises visitors who attend the Winter Olympics that Sochi will be a safe zone. However, he strongly advises all individuals with alternative lifestyles to stay away from children.
The Guardian reported that during a meeting with volunteers, Putin explicitly stated that Russia bans homosexual propoganda, not “non-traditional relationships”:
“We do not have a ban on non-traditional sexual relationships,” said Putin in comments reported by Russian agencies. “We have a ban on the propaganda of homosexuality and paedophilia. I want to underline this. Propaganda among children. These are absolutely different things – a ban on something or a ban on the propaganda of that thing.”
He further explains that there will be no consequences.
“We are not forbidding anything and nobody is being grabbed off the street, and there is no punishment for such kinds of relations,” said Putin. “You can feel relaxed and calm [in Russia], but leave children alone please,” said Putin.
Although Putin guarantees that Sochi will be discrimination-free, you never know what could happen at a big event like the Olympics.
