Russia's Interior Ministry Confirms Anti-Gay Law Will Be Enforced At 2014 Sochi Games

Russia's Interior Ministry, "which controls the police force," confirmed Monday that "the country's controversial anti-gay law will be enforced" during the 2014 Sochi Olympics, according to R-SPORT. Confusion "has reigned over how the country intends to act" during the Winter Games after President Vladimir Putin signed legislation in June that "bans the promotion of homosexuality to minors." The IOC "first claimed it had received assurances from top government officials" that Sochi 2014 athletes and guests will not be affected, prompting Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko to insist that "no one is exempt from the law." An Interior Ministry statement issued Monday said, "The law enforcement agencies can have no qualms with people who harbor a nontraditional sexual orientation and do not commit such acts [to promote homosexuality to minors], do not conduct any kind of provocation and take part in the Olympics peacefully" (R-SPORT, 8/12).