The head of the Ministry of Justice of Germany did not exclude the boycott of the Sochi Olympics

The Minister of Justice of Germany Sabina Loytha-Schnarrenberger did not exclude the boycott of the Olympic Games in Sochi in connection with the adoption of a homophobic law in Russia. “They don’t force anyone to participate (in the Olympics. - Ed.),” The minister said in an interview with Der Spiegel magazine. She noticed that athletes have the opportunity not to participate in competitions, and politicians do not visit them.

Loitha-Schnarrenberger noted that "hanging labels on homosexuals" contradicts the European Convention on Human Rights. Russia must comply with international legal obligations, the minister emphasized. Otherwise, she said, "any politician should think about how he positions himself in relation to such a policy of exclusion in relation to minorities."

On Saturday, it became known that the President of the International Olympic Committee, Puero -Richard, criticized the homophobic law. He urged in the future to grant the right to conduct olympiads only to countries without discriminatory laws.

"We must use all the possibilities to influence Russian officials, as this legislation can create problems for our athletes. For the future we must create a condition for holding the Olympic Games only in countries that do not discriminate people," the candidate said.

On July 26, the IOC in a special statement assured that the adoption of the law on the prohibition of propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors will not lead to any discrimination of athletes, officials, spectators and journalists at the Sochi Olympics.

Later, the Minister of Sports Vitaly Mutko said that no one was going to intervene in the personal life of guests and participants in the Olympic Games in Sochi, but all those who have come to the country should certainly follow the laws. “Here are swimmers, for example, are now in Barcelona at the World Sports Championships. They cannot go outside and begin to violate local laws? So come here. Come, but do not involve young people, do not promote - that's what we are talking about,” the Minister of Sports added.

On August 2, the head of the State Duma Committee on Physical Education, Sports and Youth Affairs, Igor Anansky, said that the law would not apply to the participants and guests of the 2014 Olympics.

The leaders of a number of foreign LGBT organizations called for a boycott of the Sochi Olympiad in connection with the adoption of a homophobic law. Meanwhile, the Organizing Committee of the Russian Gay Pradea decided not to support the boycott. As reported on Twitter of the LGBT activist Nikolai Alekseev, he intends to hold a “winter gay parade” with his associates in Sochi during the Olympics.

On June 30, President Vladimir Putin signed a law on the ban on "Propaganda of non -traditional sexual relations among children." The law provides for fines for citizens, officials and companies, as well as the suspension of the activities of organizations. For foreigners living in Russia, additional punishment in the form of expulsion outside the country is provided.