VLAD LGBT ROW

Vladimir Putin says gay marriage will NEVER be allowed in Russia as long as he is in charge

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has said that gay marriage will not be legalised in the country as long as he is in charge.

Putin made the comments while speaking at a state commission to discuss constitutional reforms on Thursday.

Speaking at the conference, Putin made his views on gay marriage very clear.

He said: "A marriage is a union between a man and a woman"

"The idea (traditional marriage) is good and must be supported, as it is."

Putin also denied ever changing his mind on same-sex parenting.

He added: "As far as 'parent number 1' and 'parent number 2' goes, I've already spoken publicly about this and I'll repeat it again: as long as I'm president this will not happen.

"There will be dad and mum."

Is homosexuality illegal in Russia?

Homosexuality was decriminalised in Russia in 1993, but same-sex marriage remains illegal.

LGBT rights groups say homophobic attacks have rocketed since president Putin approved the controversial law outlawing the promotion of a 'gay lifestyle' to minors in 2013.

There was widespread outrage last year when a Russian investigative committee opened a criminal case accusing officials of negligence for allowing a gay couple to adopt two children.

A statement by the investigators said being raised by a gay couple might cause the children to form "distorted ideas about family values."

Despite thriving LGBT communities in cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg, discrimination is still common.

Gay supporters attending the World Cup in 2018 were also warned it is dangerous to hold hands in public in Russia.

In 2017, dozens of gay men were reportedly detained and tortured in Chechnya, a federal subject of Russia ruled by Ramzan Kadyrov.