Russian militia say they will patrol World Cup games to stop gay men kissing

Members of the Cossack Russian militia have stated they will patrol a number of World Cup games to help police prevent gay men from kissing.

Over 300 Cossacks, an ethnic group of Russian paramilitaries will reportedly patrol World Cup games in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, close to the Ukranian border.

In a series of remarks originally reported by US-funded Russian-language channel Current Time TV, a senior member of the Cossack militia stated that the group were preparing to patrol some of the upcoming World Cup games to help maintain traditional values.

(MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Oleg Barannikov, a coordinator of Cossack volunteer guards said: “If two men kiss at the World Cup we will ask the police to pay attention to them, and what happens next is up to the police.

“For us values above all mean Orthodox Christianity and family.

“We Cossacks have gone through too much for those values to be just thrown away.”

Related: The LGBT guide to who should win the World Cup

Barannikov then stated that the Cossacks would leave their traditional whips at home and would be tolerant of LGBT fans.

However, he then added they would also physically support police if necessary.

• Dec 01

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