One of Russia’s leading anti-gay politicians, Vitaly Milonov who is the Deputy of the Legislative Assembly of St Petersburg, has been awarded the highest decoration of the state by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to the decree published on the Russian government’s official web portal of legal information, Vitaly Milonov was awarded the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland”, second degree, for his “legislative activity and many years of honest work”.
The order is awarded for “outstanding services to the state” or for “great contributions to the defense of the Fatherland”, and can be awarded to both civilians and military personnel.
Milonov who is best known for his St Petersburg legislation, that served as a foundation for the controversial “gay propaganda” law banning the promotion of homosexuality among minors.
Milonov hopes St Petersburg can be “freed” of gay men and lesbians, and has demanded St Petersburg become an ”exemplary district” without drug addicts, prostitutes and homosexuals, according to German news website Queer.de.
Milonov is known for making controversial statements, including his proposal to close Facebook, ban men from not wearing t-shirts in the St Petersburg streets and opposing Madonna giving a concert in St Petersburg.
The politician has also repeatedly taken activist Elena Klimova to court, over her project Children 404 which aims to give Russian LGBTI youth a place to go online.
Last Updated on Sep 15, 2015
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