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Russia: Lawmaker who compared being gay to having sex with a dog ‘welcomes all’ to Moscow 2016 Dog Show

Nov 06 2013
Written by Aaron Day

Vitaly Milonov, city councillor and author of St Petersburg’s homophobic censorship law, has said all people are “welcome” to the annual World Dog Show regardless of their sexual orientation, which is set to be held in Moscow in 2016.

In August, Milanov said that gay people were not “normal” and compared being gay to living “with a dog, with a horse, with a sheep, whatever.”

This came following the lawmaker’s decision to author the now notorious anti-gay “propaganda” law, which was signed in to law in June by President Vladimir Putin.

Since that time, many have called for either a boycott or a relocation of the Winter Olympic games, due to be held in Sochi in 2014, but now DogWorld.co.uk (DW) is also raising flags about the annual World Dog Show, which is due to be held in Moscow in 2016.

DW said it recently spoke to Mr Milinov on the repercussions of the law on gay exhibitors attending the World Dog Show, and whether he felt a journey to the event would be a safe one.

He responded saying that all exhibitors of whatever sexual orientation are free to visit Moscow and enjoy the city, while also adding that he was a dog enthusiast and may even attend the show himself.

Previously, Milanov vowed that police will arrest all pro-gay protesters including Olympic athletes and spectators at the Sochi 2014 games.

“I haven’t heard any comments from the government of the Russian Federation, but I know that it is acting in accordance with Russian law. And if a law has been approved by the federal legislature and signed by the president, then the government has no right to suspend it. It doesn’t have the authority,” said Milonov in an interview with Interfax.

Human rights groups have criticised the anti-propaganda bill authored by Milanov as “outrageous and incredibly dangerous”.