EU Foreign Policy Chief about Russia’s ‘Gay Propaganda’ Ban

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday expressed her concern about a Russian bill making “homosexual propaganda” among minors an administrative offense. “The implementation of this law could reinforce discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals and intersex people as well as all those who support them and their choices, in particular by limiting their freedom of expression and their freedom of association and assembly,” the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy said. Ashton said that Russia should observe the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights, which states that the freedom of expression and freedom of association for all individuals should be protected.