The move, announced last Monday, is being condemned by human rights groups, who have been horrified by the attacks on free speech and gay rights in the country during Mr Putin’s time in office.
An Amnesty International spokesman told pinknews.co.uk: “Amnesty International has serious concerns about the Russian government’s treatment of LGBT rights.
“We’ve had numerous homophobic attacks in Russia, some of them fatal.
“The authorities have failed to tackle discrimination because of sexual orientation.”
Should Putin become prime minister the post of president will in all probability be reduced to a toothless decoration, with Mr Putin continuing to exercise extensive control over the country.
For the Russian gay community, such an eventuality would signal a depressing development, wiping away any chance of seeing tangible change in the country.
Moscow’s mayor, Yuri Luzhkov is closely tied to Mr Putin. He is well known for his homophobic sentiments and banned a Gay Pride march in the capital in 2006.
Amnesty’s spokesman said: “LGBT people have been subject to violent attacks while attending clubs in Moscow.
“In 2006 the Gay Pride march was banned in Moscow.
“The Russian Orthodox and Muslim leaders have publicly criticised Pride and made homophobic statements.”An attempt to hold a Pride march in 2007 were denounced by the Mayor as “satanic”. For the second year in a row it degenerated into violent clashes with homophobic extremists.Go where they go. Join Gay.date.com today!
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