Moscow police pull a gay
rights activist away from a rally near the mayor's
office last month: Should
Russia's homophobia disqualify the country from
being an Olympic host?
Kremlin Cannot Promise to Lift 'Gay Propaganda' Ban at Sochi (Kommersant, Russia)
"A suspension of federal law can only be accomplished by the
passage of new federal or the imposition of martial law. It can therefore only
be done by the commander-in-chief - the president of the Russian Federation. Rather,
this [assurance] was a perfunctory diplomatic exchange between states, a way of
clearing things up to put our foreign partners more at ease."
--
Mikhail Salkin, founder of the Moscow Human Rights
Center
The
law banning homosexual propaganda will have no impact on participants and
guests at the 2014 Olympics Games in Sochi. Russian authorities have offered a government-level
guarantee to the International Olympic Committee along these lines. The story
was first reported by USA Today. The IOC
stated that organizers "will continue to do everything possible to ensure
that the Games go ahead without discrimination against athletes, officials,
spectators or journalists." However, government edicts can have no influence
over existing legislation, points out Mikhail Salkin,
founder of the Moscow Human Rights Center.
"A
suspension of federal law can only be accomplished by the passage of new federal
law or the imposition of martial law. It can therefore only be done by the
commander-in-chief - the president of the Russian Federation. Rather, this was
a perfunctory diplomatic exchange between states, a way of clearing things up
to put our foreign partners more at ease. They have a somewhat inaccurate
conception of the legislative changes that have been put in place. This law is
not intended to discriminate against one person or another. It simply imposes
restrictions meant to limit damaging influences on minors" Salkin explained.
Earlier,
members of the Moscow LGBT movement declared their
intention to hold a gay pride march in Sochi on opening day of the Olympics.
This is further proof that the law must operate in full force during the sporting
event, according to Deputy Vitaly Milonov of the St. Petersburg Legislative
Assembly.
"This
is the first time in history that the Olympic Games may be overshadowed by 'rainbows'
and the 'dancing of sodomites.' The Olympic Games, as I understand them, is a
sports competition - not a parade for sexual deviants. Here the most important
thing is not to allow individual marginalized para-political
groups the opportunity to use the Olympics for their latest outing, or absurd
dance events. This cannot be permitted. So we have a lot of problems with the
Olympics," Milonov said.
Last
week in Murmansk, four Dutch tourists were arrested for promoting
non-traditional relationships. Because their film about a local gay community
featured a minor, they were barred from entering Russia for three years.
Despite similar incidents, political analyst Leonid Radzikhovsky
believes that foreign athletes have nothing to fear at the Olympics, whatever their
sexual orientation.
"Of
course, we have no need to fawn over foreigners as we did in Soviet times, when
they were considered a higher grade of people. Nevertheless, foreigners will be
coming for the Olympics, and the Olympics have taken on an almost religious
significance for us: it is the greatest demonstration, the ultimate
vindication, and the highest aim of all Russian politics for many, many years.
An absolute exception will be made for people who come here for the Olympics,
and at no point will anyone do anything against them," said Radzikhovsky.
On
Sunday a petition on the White House Web site began collecting signatures on
adding the names of Vitaly Milonov and Elena Mizulina, head of the State Duma's
Committee on Family, Women and Children, to the so-called "Magnitsky list."
The creators of the petition believe that these deputies are "personally
responsible for discrimination against sexual minorities in Russia."
