Crimea chief says gays not needed
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 2 September 2014 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Crimea chief says gays not needed, 2 September 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/542ac6f115.html [accessed 3 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 02, 2014
The senior official in Crimea says sexual minorities "have no chance" on the peninsula that Russia annexed from Ukraine in March.
Speaking about gays during a Crimean government session on September 2, Sergei Aksyonov said "we in Crimea do not need such people."
Aksyonov said that if gays tried to hold public gatherings, "our police and self-defense forces will react immediately and in three minutes will explain to them what kind of sexual orientation they should stick to."
He said Crimean children should be brought up with a "positive attitude to family and traditional values."
Russia annexed Crimea after a referendum that was condemned as illegal by the United States and European Union.
President Vladimir Putin signed a law last year that Western governments and activists say curtails gay rights and encourages discrimination.
Based on reporting by Interfax and ITAR-TASS
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
