Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has declared that no ministers from his political party will attend the Winter Olympics in Sochi because of Russia's "regressive" anti-gay laws.
The British Deputy Prime Minister also hoped that Britons attending the Games would feel emboldened to speak out against the legislation.
Speaking on local radio station LBC 97.3, Clegg said: "It's just the most regressive law imaginable, it has a very chilling effect, intimidating effect, on many people in the lesbian, bisexual, gay community in Russia and elsewhere.
"I am not going to go [to Sochi] and I certainly wouldn't want any Liberal Democrat minister to go there given the strength of feeling in my party and I feel this very strongly as well, that what Russia has done, on that legislation, is just plain wrong."
Downing Street has confirmed that Culture Secretary Maria Miller will represent Great Britain at the start of the Games tonight.
Giuseppe Labellarte
