Gay couples holding hands in Russia could face JAIL TERMS under draconian plans drawn up by the Kremlin
The proposal is the most aggressive move yet in Vladimir Putin's ongoing campaign to push-back against "nontraditional sexual relations"
Politicians in Russia will next week debate the country's most aggressively anti-gay legislation yet when they decide whether to ban gay couples from displaying affection in public.
If implemented the move could see couples jailed or fined for kissing or even holding hands in public as part of the Vladimir Putin's government's ongoing push-back against "nontraditional sexual relations".
The bill is tabled for discussion in Russian parliament on Friday.
In 2013, the country passed a controversial law that banned "gay propaganda", public speech or demonstrations claiming equality with the straight lifestyle, arguing that such behaviour had a corrupting influence on children.
But this new legislation takes the anti-gay agenda even further, allowing for a fine of up of 5,000 rubles- the equivalent of £45 for the "public expression of nontraditional sexual relations, resulting in the public demonstration of one's own distorted sexual preferences in public places."
And if the affection is displayed in an area where children congregate, such as near a school, then the couple will face up to 15 days in jail.
Like the 2013 law, the details are vague and open to interpretation but Ivan Nikitchuk, one of the bill's sponsors, confirmed to journalists that kissing or hand holding would mean detention by the police.
Tanya Cooper, a Russia researcher for Human Rights Watch, wrote that the ban on public expression of non-traditional sexuality could "further escalate the rabid homophobia and transphobia in Russia, putting LGBT Russians at further risk of violence and discrimination."
Last year Putin defended his controversial policy, saying that Russian's of "nontraditional sexual orientation" live peacefully in Russia.
He accused outside influences of exaggerating LGBT persecution in the country for political reasons.