Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Games all principles of the Olympic movement will be complied with which do not allow discrimination of people on any grounds, Intefax reported.
At the same time, the Russian President noted the U.S. attempts to discredit the Sochi Olympic Games.
"We do not have laws against people with non-traditional sexual orientations. You are creating an illusion to millions of viewers that we have such laws, but Russia does not have them," the press service of the Russian president cited Putin's response to journalists of Channel One and Associated Press which was posted on the website of the Head of State.
"Firstly, Russia has adopted a law banning propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation among minors and this is a completely different thing," Putin continued. "Secondly, we see that attempts are being taken to somehow discredit the holding of future Olympic Games, as well as attempts of discrediting on the basis of this feature.
"Unfortunately we see these efforts including from the United States. Accordingly, I would like to say that firstly the rights of people of non-traditional sexual orientation are not discriminated against, neither in a professional sense, nor in the level of wages and even if they reach some heights in creativity, or at work, they are not even infringed in terms of the recognition of their achievements by the state, I mean rewarding them with orders and medals. They are the citizens of the Russian Federation with absolutely full and equal rights."
"I think the authors of this law were basing it on the need to solve the problems of a demographic character and were far from the idea of infringing someone's rights," Russian President said.