:00:00. > :00:00.that is his business, it is his party. He is free to do what he
:00:00. > :00:00.likes, basically. Now on BBC News Andrew Marr
:00:00. > :00:16.interviews President Vladimir the Winter Olympics. The Kinski
:00:17. > :00:30.fastest? This year, it is also about the Adam Coote and's Russia. --
:00:31. > :00:36.Vladimir Putin. Supporters say Russia is better to act as a place
:00:37. > :00:39.at the top table. I have been talking to Vladimir Putin, the
:00:40. > :00:42.Russian President. He talked to me and a few other journalists from
:00:43. > :00:49.Russia, China and America. Recovered meat prop -- topics including metal
:00:50. > :00:57.prospects. But first, Security. After the recent attacks, I'd be
:00:58. > :01:01.Games under threat? TRANSLATION: Tremors are always trying to draw
:01:02. > :01:11.attention themselves. Not only sports events but political ones. --
:01:12. > :01:17.extremists. We know what security measures have to be taken. With G20,
:01:18. > :01:24.the same applies to sports events. It is a shame. Extremists are
:01:25. > :01:30.narrowminded people who not realise even if they in their own minds say
:01:31. > :01:34.themselves noble goals, they are committing terrorist acts. There are
:01:35. > :01:44.drifting further away from achieving those goals. The whole world sees
:01:45. > :01:49.them as criminals. Criminals of the worst kind. The first to people with
:01:50. > :01:59.no regard for human rights, freedom is all human life. -- bloodthirsty.
:02:00. > :02:04.I would like to think all departments in the US, Europe and
:02:05. > :02:07.Asia are cooperating with the Russian underpass in law enforcement
:02:08. > :02:17.and with our special service. This joint work is ongoing. Security is
:02:18. > :02:23.being insured by 40,000 police and security forces. Will protect our
:02:24. > :02:28.airspace, the seas, the mountains all around. I hope this can be done
:02:29. > :02:42.in a way that is not the oppressive to those taking part in the Olympic
:02:43. > :02:44.Games. TRANSLATION: Volgograd saw two terrorist attacks one must
:02:45. > :02:48.before the opening at the Olympics. Many people have some as to what
:02:49. > :02:54.might happen. You can type of security. Those measures are fact
:02:55. > :03:01.the athletes? -- tighten security. TRANSLATION: If we showed weakness
:03:02. > :03:08.or fear, then we will not achieve our goals. The international
:03:09. > :03:16.community should unite to fight him into a tax and the murder of
:03:17. > :03:21.innocent people. -- fight against terrorist attacks. We either
:03:22. > :03:27.organisers. Our job is to ensure the safety of participants in the
:03:28. > :03:38.Olympic Games. We will do our best. A Swiss member said corruption is an
:03:39. > :03:45.everyday matter. At the $80 million embezzled. Is he right? What can be
:03:46. > :03:54.done about it? TRANSLATION: True. The Swiss representative to not say
:03:55. > :03:59.that. Second slip, if anyone has concrete information or instances of
:04:00. > :04:03.corruption in relation to the Sochi Olympics subject, we ask them to
:04:04. > :04:13.give up the data. We will be glad and grateful. We will use this
:04:14. > :04:19.information to put things at rest. What is corruption? In this case, it
:04:20. > :04:23.means the theft of public funds with the help of state officials. If
:04:24. > :04:28.anyone has such information, if these findings to us, please. But
:04:29. > :04:38.besides tall, nobody has given us anything. -- talk. We understand
:04:39. > :04:45.there are some force against everything. I do not know why. It is
:04:46. > :04:52.what they did. Probably somebody offered them in their life. They are
:04:53. > :04:56.inclined to it. -- offended. We have not seen any big instances of
:04:57. > :05:04.corruption in terms of the Sochi games. There have been a tense but
:05:05. > :05:10.exhibitors, contractors to drive up the price. This is seen in every
:05:11. > :05:13.country in the world. Our task is to bring the price down and the achieve
:05:14. > :05:19.good quality and meet the deadlines for construction. TRANSLATION: At
:05:20. > :05:25.the beginning of December, became the Sochi to inspect the Olympic
:05:26. > :05:30.sites. Can we say everything is ready? Is that what you are being
:05:31. > :05:34.told? Where were the biggest difficulties and problems be? What
:05:35. > :05:40.has been done to resolve them? TRANSLATION: Everything is already
:05:41. > :05:47.done. Now we have to put the final touches in place. We have to get
:05:48. > :05:50.hotel is functioning well. We have to remove construction equipment and
:05:51. > :05:57.waste material. We need to get ready to receive guests as Annie
:05:58. > :06:04.Hurstwood. Everything has to be beautiful and reflect the spirit of
:06:05. > :06:10.the event itself. As you know, they have already been test competitions.
:06:11. > :06:17.Some parts of the scheme World Cup and other big international
:06:18. > :06:23.tournaments. -- scheme. Competitors, guests and officials were satisfied
:06:24. > :06:31.and stressed the high degree. All of this size are finished. TRANSLATION:
:06:32. > :06:38.The storm has been so strong that the mountains haven't been seen. It
:06:39. > :06:41.no more and more. Were we modified the weather when it comes to the
:06:42. > :06:47.Olympics or will we leave it till date? TRANSLATION: We want to try
:06:48. > :06:55.everything. Will be dependent on each. It has started the snow
:06:56. > :07:01.unexpectedly. But if weather conditions did not meet the
:07:02. > :07:02.standards of the competition, the representatives of International
:07:03. > :07:09.Olympic Committee will decide what to be about it. However, I do hope
:07:10. > :07:13.that the conditions will be favourable as the weather data from
:07:14. > :07:19.many years showed that from the first half of February tour the end
:07:20. > :07:26.of March, this part of January has able weather for winter sports. --
:07:27. > :07:32.favourable. Despite the fluctuations, I have this will be
:07:33. > :07:38.the case. People will consider France or Switzerland or Austria for
:07:39. > :07:43.skiing. Will you want them to come to Russia instead? If so, how much
:07:44. > :07:48.of a problem is the these? Is there anything you can do that
:07:49. > :07:55.unilaterally for the future? TRANSLATION: As far as Sochi is
:07:56. > :08:01.concerned, we took one decision for the Olympic guests. Tourists coming
:08:02. > :08:12.to the Olympics can arrive without visas. They can get accreditation at
:08:13. > :08:22.our diplomatic commission. They do not need a visa first. We would like
:08:23. > :08:29.very much the rich and agreement on a visa free access regime for the
:08:30. > :08:34.European Union. I have often mentioned that the EU is an
:08:35. > :08:36.arrangement with a number of Latin American countries where the
:08:37. > :08:44.criminal situation is not that tough. In many cases, it is worth
:08:45. > :08:51.than in the Russian Federation. If we look at Russia and Europe, we are
:08:52. > :08:56.right next to each other. Many prominent British people like Ian
:08:57. > :08:59.McKellen and often John Huh expressed unease and unhappiness and
:09:00. > :09:05.the about the Russian attitude to gay people. Meanwhile, the Foreign
:09:06. > :09:10.Ministry has accused the EU of queer the gander. I wonder whether you are
:09:11. > :09:13.surprised by this row coming out before the Olympics and whether you
:09:14. > :09:18.think there is a fundamental difference in attitude between
:09:19. > :09:24.Russia and the West between... Towards gay people. Do you think gay
:09:25. > :09:32.people are born and not made and that the itch of propaganda is
:09:33. > :09:36.ridiculous. ? TRANSLATION: I can answer that part of the question
:09:37. > :09:42.about whether homosexuals are born or made. That is beyond my
:09:43. > :09:52.professional interest. I am not qualified to respond. I would like
:09:53. > :09:57.to tell your attention to the fact that in Russia, unlike one third of
:09:58. > :10:07.the world's countries, being gay is not a crime. In 70 countries, there
:10:08. > :10:11.is a criminal liability for homosexuality. In seven of those
:10:12. > :10:18.countries, they have the death penalty for homosexuality. We have
:10:19. > :10:23.recently passed a law prohibiting propaganda. But of an official of
:10:24. > :10:32.the early but of homosexuality in child abuse. Child sexual abuse.
:10:33. > :10:40.This is nothing to do with prosecuting individuals for their
:10:41. > :10:43.sexual orientation. There is a world of difference between these things.
:10:44. > :10:48.There is no danger for individuals of this non-traditional sexual
:10:49. > :10:55.orientation you panicky plant -- planning to come to the Games at
:10:56. > :10:58.participants or spectators. What about the Russian Church people who
:10:59. > :11:03.have called for the return of Camilla Law against homosexual
:11:04. > :11:10.people? Are you supporting that all horrified by that? What is your
:11:11. > :11:16.attitude? TRANSLATION: The church is separate from the state. It has the
:11:17. > :11:22.right to its own point of view. I would also like to take -- point out
:11:23. > :11:29.that the old traditionalist religious people...
:11:30. > :11:42.Is the position of the holy see different from the Russian church?
:11:43. > :11:45.Does is on track individuals with non- traditional sexual orientation
:11:46. > :11:57.is differently? Actually, it is even tougher. Read our Lord Catholic and
:11:58. > :12:04.pay attention to its name. -- law. -- carefully. It is called a ban on
:12:05. > :12:10.the propaganda of paedophilia and homosexuality. There are countries
:12:11. > :12:17.including in Europe where they are debating the possibility of
:12:18. > :12:23.legalising paedophilia. Public are discussing this in Parliament, they
:12:24. > :12:36.can do what they want. The people of Russia have their own cultural code.
:12:37. > :12:40.Their own traditions. It seems to me the law does not harm anybody. And
:12:41. > :12:46.social people can fuel in the area here because there is a professional
:12:47. > :12:50.or socialist commission against them. When the achieve great
:12:51. > :12:54.success, for example, Elton John, an extraordinary person, a
:12:55. > :12:59.distinguished musician and millions of our people love him regardless of
:13:00. > :13:05.his sexual orientation. Obama said he has personally found the capable
:13:06. > :13:09.Glendalough, neither he or his family are coming to Sochi. He said
:13:10. > :13:13.recently if Russia does not have to or or lesbian athletes, it doubly
:13:14. > :13:19.makes their weaker. I wonder if you can respond to that. If gay and
:13:20. > :13:24.lesbian athletes can come to a protest can wear a rendered pink,
:13:25. > :13:35.will they be free from prosecution under the propaganda law? -- rainbow
:13:36. > :13:38.pin. TRANSLATION: Protest actions and propaganda two slightly
:13:39. > :13:42.different things. Similar but from a local pond of view, protesting
:13:43. > :13:46.against the law is not the same thing against -- same thing as the
:13:47. > :13:56.gander against homosexuality or child abuse.
:13:57. > :14:11.Secondly, I would ask for colleagues and friends before criticising us to
:14:12. > :14:18.sort out their own problems first. In some states in the US,
:14:19. > :14:24.homosexuality is criminalised. So how can they criticise us for taking
:14:25. > :14:29.a far gentler and more liberal approach than they have back? In the
:14:30. > :14:34.run-up to this feast of sport, there were a lot of amnesties in Russia
:14:35. > :14:39.stopped Greenpeace, Pussy Riot and so on. Your critics say that this is
:14:40. > :14:45.the Russian bear putting on a smile just for Sochi and things would go
:14:46. > :14:49.up -- go back to normal afterwards. Is there a heart of liberalism in
:14:50. > :14:53.the Russian bear at the moment that we will see in the coming months?
:14:54. > :14:59.TRANSLATION: What do you want me to say? I would like you to say that I
:15:00. > :15:03.am a warm, Liberal president. I have changed my views and no one need
:15:04. > :15:09.fear me in any way at all. TRANSLATION: It is true. That is the
:15:10. > :15:20.answer? OK. TRANSLATION: One more thing. We did these things in honour
:15:21. > :15:25.of the 20th anniversary of the Russian constitution. Secondly, it
:15:26. > :15:29.was our law. The decision of the amnesty was not made by the
:15:30. > :15:39.President. It was the prerogative of Parliament. It was not me who made
:15:40. > :15:44.the decision but Parliament. But certainly support this initiative
:15:45. > :15:47.and believe it is correct. We should also strike a balance between those
:15:48. > :15:54.who committed these crimes and their victims. We talk a lot about the
:15:55. > :15:58.situation of people in prison or under investigation but we should
:15:59. > :16:04.never relegated the sidelines that people who are victims of these
:16:05. > :16:08.crimes. TRANSLATION: I have heard you calling the individual baby,
:16:09. > :16:13.your project. I have heard people say that this is a key factor in why
:16:14. > :16:18.Russia has a chance to host them. Is there a connection between the Sochi
:16:19. > :16:21.Olympics and your vision of a strong Russia? Some critics say that it is
:16:22. > :16:28.linked your future political career. Can you comment? TRANSLATION: Major
:16:29. > :16:31.events like the World Championships, the European Championships and the
:16:32. > :16:36.Olympic Games encourage people, especially young people to do
:16:37. > :16:43.sports, to build mass sports presentation. That certainly has a
:16:44. > :16:46.positive impact on the health of the nation and makes sports popular,
:16:47. > :16:53.interesting, and fashionable. I believe that all of that to be very
:16:54. > :17:02.important. It is not just about my ambitions. It is in the interests of
:17:03. > :17:06.the state and the people. No doubt, it gives them great pleasure to see
:17:07. > :17:17.us do this but again, it is not because of personal ambitions. It is
:17:18. > :17:24.also a moral aspect to this and there is no need to be ashamed of
:17:25. > :17:33.it. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, after the dark and bloody
:17:34. > :17:38.events in the Caucasus, people who -- people were negative and is
:17:39. > :17:44.mystic. We had to pull together and realised that we can deliver
:17:45. > :17:48.large-scale projects on time and to high standards. You sound confident,
:17:49. > :17:51.your fat a powerful last year. You had been voted the third most
:17:52. > :17:55.popular now in the world, beating the Pope. In the past, you said that
:17:56. > :17:59.there was a possibility of standing for election again. Is that
:18:00. > :18:02.possibility maturing and hardening in your mind? You don't seem to be
:18:03. > :18:08.bored with being president. TRANSLATION: I don't think that one
:18:09. > :18:13.should pay much attention to such ratings. No layperson can get the
:18:14. > :18:17.better of the Pope. As for ambitions, it is too early to speak
:18:18. > :18:24.of this. It is 2014. The elections are not until 2018. We have to get
:18:25. > :18:30.on with the work now and then we will see.
:18:31. > :18:36.The worst thing for a politician is to thrive and cling to power by
:18:37. > :18:42.every possible means and focus only on that. In that case, failure is
:18:43. > :18:49.inevitable because you are a rule is afraid you are making the wrong
:18:50. > :18:56.step. -- you are always afraid. Should focus on work and do good
:18:57. > :19:00.work. TRANSLATION: I do not know if this was intentional but now the
:19:01. > :19:02.city of Sochi and other Russian cities are becoming more
:19:03. > :19:08.user-friendly towards not only Paralympian 's but also disabled
:19:09. > :19:11.people. This is quite visible. Much has to be done still but this is
:19:12. > :19:20.progress. Was that your intention when you bought the Paralympics
:19:21. > :19:24.here? TRANSLATION: Yes, it was. Moreover, we have a federal
:19:25. > :19:36.programme on the so-called Barrier Free Environment. Unfortunately, I
:19:37. > :19:41.have no doubt that creating such a programme will fall behind other
:19:42. > :19:45.countries in the world. They regret it but it has been like that since
:19:46. > :19:48.the Soviet times. I am greatly pleased that we are leading this
:19:49. > :19:57.negative tradition behind. I would like Sochi to serve as an example
:19:58. > :20:00.for all Russian cities on how to create an accessible environment.
:20:01. > :20:04.Would you care to make a friendly bet with President Obama on who
:20:05. > :20:08.would make more medals, Russia or the US? TRANSLATION: I would never
:20:09. > :20:15.make that statement. Barack Obama himself loves sports very much.
:20:16. > :20:19.Conceded he looks fine. He pays due attention to it and not only playing
:20:20. > :20:29.sport but also the development of sport. We wish success to our
:20:30. > :20:35.American friends, American athletes. I would like the sport not
:20:36. > :20:43.to be soiled by politics. I think that we will all benefit from this.
:20:44. > :20:47.But of course, first of all, we will support our athletes. We
:20:48. > :20:53.traditionally have good results in winter sports. It is much more
:20:54. > :20:57.important for Russia to create a favourable environment for the games
:20:58. > :21:03.and to conduct them in the proper manner. It is very important that
:21:04. > :21:10.our athletes to show their worth, courage, and skill. You have seen
:21:11. > :21:14.you on horseback, we have cynically judo, ice hockey, and fish. Can you
:21:15. > :21:24.tell us about your personal fitness regime these days? TRANSLATION:
:21:25. > :21:28.Don't eat too much. Practice sports. There are no magic pill is here. I
:21:29. > :21:34.do something every day. Yesterday, I was skiing into 1:30am. Go to the
:21:35. > :21:44.gym. I swim a thousand litres a day. Nothing special but on a regular
:21:45. > :21:54.basis. You know what they say, little by little, achieve success.
:21:55. > :21:58.After that roundtable interview, rare enough in itself. I had an
:21:59. > :22:03.opportunity to speak to the President personally. Mr President.
:22:04. > :22:06.Thank you once again. We spoke at great length about gay rights but I
:22:07. > :22:12.still don't understand completely your own views. If I were our most
:22:13. > :22:15.prominent actor, Sir Ian McKellen and he were standing here and said,
:22:16. > :22:19.do you have a personal problem with gay people, are you happy to work
:22:20. > :22:24.closely with gay people, dear fuel that gay people are being
:22:25. > :22:29.distributed to get in Russia, what would you tell him? TRANSLATION: If
:22:30. > :22:32.you want my personality Tom I will tell you that I don't care about
:22:33. > :22:39.someone's sexual orientation. -- personal attitude. I myself know
:22:40. > :22:47.some people who are gay and we are on friendly terms. They are not
:22:48. > :22:51.prejudiced in any way. -- I'm not. Is Sir Elton John as he did McKellen
:22:52. > :22:56.arrived would you do speak to them about this? TRANSLATION: I would
:22:57. > :22:58.definitely speak to them about this and I have honoured several members
:22:59. > :23:03.of the gay community in this country for their personal achievements
:23:04. > :23:07.regardless of their sexual orientation. I will send the message
:23:08. > :23:11.back. This area reminds me very much in Scotland at times and in the
:23:12. > :23:15.United Kingdom, we are facing a referendum this year about the Scots
:23:16. > :23:19.going to vote as to whether to leave the UK. I know that there is a lot
:23:20. > :23:23.of movement around the world for historical countries to leave the
:23:24. > :23:27.country 's, a secessionist mood, if you like. The wonder what message
:23:28. > :23:31.you may have you David Cameron in this big year for Britain?
:23:32. > :23:36.TRANSLATION: It is not a matter for Russia. It is a domestic matters for
:23:37. > :23:43.the UK. Any people have the right to self-determination. With Europe are
:23:44. > :23:47.looting national sovereignty within the framework of Europe, it is more
:23:48. > :23:53.acceptable. -- die looting. I believe that one should not forget
:23:54. > :23:57.that being part of a single strong state has some advantages and one
:23:58. > :24:01.should not overlook this. It is a choice for each and every people
:24:02. > :24:04.according to their own circumstances. You could perhaps
:24:05. > :24:09.invite the Scots to join your you new customs union? TRANSLATION: I
:24:10. > :24:12.wouldn't rule out out. Thank you very much, Mr President.