Putin: Gays must 'leave children in peace'

Russian president says visitors to Olympics 'can feel calm and at ease.'

Russian President Vladimir Putin, background right, speaks at his meeting with Olympic volunteers in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia today.

SOCHI, Russia  — Russian President Vladimir Putin sought today to reassure gay visitors to the Sochi Games that they are welcome in Russia, but added that they must “leave the children in peace.”

Responding to a question from an Olympics volunteer during a visit in the Black Sea resort city, Putin vowed that gays face no discrimination in Russia and could feel “at ease.” But he emphasized that because of a Russian law banning gay “propaganda” among minors, they cannot express their views on gay rights issues to anyone under age.

Putin appeared to lump homosexuality and pedophilia together. “We have no ban on nontraditional sexual relations. We have a ban on propaganda of homosexuality and pedophilia, I want to underline that, on propaganda among minors,” he said.

Putin and other politicians have defended the June propaganda law as a protection of child rights, but critics believe that the law discriminates against sexual minorities. The law specifically refers only to “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations.”

Putin insisted the measure isn’t discriminatory.

“We aren’t banning anything, we aren’t rounding up anyone, we have no criminal punishment for such relations unlike many other countries,” he said. “One can feel relaxed and at ease, but please leave the children in peace.”

In the wake of the international outcry against the bill, Russian authorities have put limits on the right to protest during the Sochi games, which run Feb. 7-23.

A presidential decree initially banned all rallies in Sochi from Jan. 7 to March 21, but Putin later rescinded the ban to allow demonstrations at venues determined by the Interior Ministry.