MOSCOW, November 6 (RAPSI/RIA Novosti) – Foreign Minister of Netherlands Frans Timmermans proposed offering asylum to Russians claiming discrimination under the now infamous “gay propaganda” ban.
The Dutch News website reported Tuesday that Timmermans said in a written briefing to parliament that the law passed in Russia contributed to a homophobic climate and had an intimidating impact on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual people.
"Inhuman treatment must be taken as a serious violation of human rights and must be considered in asylum cases. This can include anti-gay laws but also discrimination by Russian authorities and nationals," Timmermans was quoted as having written.
On June 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill banning the promotion of homosexuality toward minors.
The law seeks to levy fines for such offenses from 800,000 rubles ($24,000) to 1 million rubles ($30,500) for legal entities, from 4,000 rubles ($120) to 5,000 rubles ($150) for individuals and from 40,000 rubles ($1,220) to 50,000 rubles ($1,530) for officials. Legal entities may also be suspended for 90 days for disseminating gay propaganda among children.
In a June survey by the state-run VTsIOM pollster, 88 percent of those polled expressed support for a ban on the “propaganda of homosexuality among minors.”