President Putin Talks to BBC News

that is his business, it is his party. He is free to do what he

likes, basically. Now on BBC News Andrew Marr

interviews President Vladimir the Winter Olympics. The Kinski

fastest? This year, it is also about the Adam Coote and's Russia. --

Vladimir Putin. Supporters say Russia is better to act as a place

at the top table. I have been talking to Vladimir Putin, the

Russian President. He talked to me and a few other journalists from

Russia, China and America. Recovered meat prop -- topics including metal

prospects. But first, Security. After the recent attacks, I'd be

Games under threat? TRANSLATION: Tremors are always trying to draw

attention themselves. Not only sports events but political ones. --

extremists. We know what security measures have to be taken. With G20,

the same applies to sports events. It is a shame. Extremists are

narrowminded people who not realise even if they in their own minds say

themselves noble goals, they are committing terrorist acts. There are

drifting further away from achieving those goals. The whole world sees

them as criminals. Criminals of the worst kind. The first to people with

no regard for human rights, freedom is all human life. -- bloodthirsty.

I would like to think all departments in the US, Europe and

Asia are cooperating with the Russian underpass in law enforcement

and with our special service. This joint work is ongoing. Security is

being insured by 40,000 police and security forces. Will protect our

airspace, the seas, the mountains all around. I hope this can be done

in a way that is not the oppressive to those taking part in the Olympic

Games. TRANSLATION: Volgograd saw two terrorist attacks one must

before the opening at the Olympics. Many people have some as to what

might happen. You can type of security. Those measures are fact

the athletes? -- tighten security. TRANSLATION: If we showed weakness

or fear, then we will not achieve our goals. The international

community should unite to fight him into a tax and the murder of

innocent people. -- fight against terrorist attacks. We either

organisers. Our job is to ensure the safety of participants in the

Olympic Games. We will do our best. A Swiss member said corruption is an

everyday matter. At the $80 million embezzled. Is he right? What can be

done about it? TRANSLATION: True. The Swiss representative to not say

that. Second slip, if anyone has concrete information or instances of

corruption in relation to the Sochi Olympics subject, we ask them to

give up the data. We will be glad and grateful. We will use this

information to put things at rest. What is corruption? In this case, it

means the theft of public funds with the help of state officials. If

anyone has such information, if these findings to us, please. But

besides tall, nobody has given us anything. -- talk. We understand

there are some force against everything. I do not know why. It is

what they did. Probably somebody offered them in their life. They are

inclined to it. -- offended. We have not seen any big instances of

corruption in terms of the Sochi games. There have been a tense but

exhibitors, contractors to drive up the price. This is seen in every

country in the world. Our task is to bring the price down and the achieve

good quality and meet the deadlines for construction. TRANSLATION: At

the beginning of December, became the Sochi to inspect the Olympic

sites. Can we say everything is ready? Is that what you are being

told? Where were the biggest difficulties and problems be? What

has been done to resolve them? TRANSLATION: Everything is already

done. Now we have to put the final touches in place. We have to get

hotel is functioning well. We have to remove construction equipment and

waste material. We need to get ready to receive guests as Annie

Hurstwood. Everything has to be beautiful and reflect the spirit of

the event itself. As you know, they have already been test competitions.

Some parts of the scheme World Cup and other big international

tournaments. -- scheme. Competitors, guests and officials were satisfied

and stressed the high degree. All of this size are finished. TRANSLATION:

The storm has been so strong that the mountains haven't been seen. It

no more and more. Were we modified the weather when it comes to the

Olympics or will we leave it till date? TRANSLATION: We want to try

everything. Will be dependent on each. It has started the snow

unexpectedly. But if weather conditions did not meet the

standards of the competition, the representatives of International

Olympic Committee will decide what to be about it. However, I do hope

that the conditions will be favourable as the weather data from

many years showed that from the first half of February tour the end

of March, this part of January has able weather for winter sports. --

favourable. Despite the fluctuations, I have this will be

the case. People will consider France or Switzerland or Austria for

skiing. Will you want them to come to Russia instead? If so, how much

of a problem is the these? Is there anything you can do that

unilaterally for the future? TRANSLATION: As far as Sochi is

concerned, we took one decision for the Olympic guests. Tourists coming

to the Olympics can arrive without visas. They can get accreditation at

our diplomatic commission. They do not need a visa first. We would like

very much the rich and agreement on a visa free access regime for the

European Union. I have often mentioned that the EU is an

arrangement with a number of Latin American countries where the

criminal situation is not that tough. In many cases, it is worth

than in the Russian Federation. If we look at Russia and Europe, we are

right next to each other. Many prominent British people like Ian

McKellen and often John Huh expressed unease and unhappiness and

the about the Russian attitude to gay people. Meanwhile, the Foreign

Ministry has accused the EU of queer the gander. I wonder whether you are

surprised by this row coming out before the Olympics and whether you

think there is a fundamental difference in attitude between

Russia and the West between... Towards gay people. Do you think gay

people are born and not made and that the itch of propaganda is

ridiculous. ? TRANSLATION: I can answer that part of the question

about whether homosexuals are born or made. That is beyond my

professional interest. I am not qualified to respond. I would like

to tell your attention to the fact that in Russia, unlike one third of

the world's countries, being gay is not a crime. In 70 countries, there

is a criminal liability for homosexuality. In seven of those

countries, they have the death penalty for homosexuality. We have

recently passed a law prohibiting propaganda. But of an official of

the early but of homosexuality in child abuse. Child sexual abuse.

This is nothing to do with prosecuting individuals for their

sexual orientation. There is a world of difference between these things.

There is no danger for individuals of this non-traditional sexual

orientation you panicky plant -- planning to come to the Games at

participants or spectators. What about the Russian Church people who

have called for the return of Camilla Law against homosexual

people? Are you supporting that all horrified by that? What is your

attitude? TRANSLATION: The church is separate from the state. It has the

right to its own point of view. I would also like to take -- point out

that the old traditionalist religious people...

Is the position of the holy see different from the Russian church?

Does is on track individuals with non- traditional sexual orientation

is differently? Actually, it is even tougher. Read our Lord Catholic and

pay attention to its name. -- law. -- carefully. It is called a ban on

the propaganda of paedophilia and homosexuality. There are countries

including in Europe where they are debating the possibility of

legalising paedophilia. Public are discussing this in Parliament, they

can do what they want. The people of Russia have their own cultural code.

Their own traditions. It seems to me the law does not harm anybody. And

social people can fuel in the area here because there is a professional

or socialist commission against them. When the achieve great

success, for example, Elton John, an extraordinary person, a

distinguished musician and millions of our people love him regardless of

his sexual orientation. Obama said he has personally found the capable

Glendalough, neither he or his family are coming to Sochi. He said

recently if Russia does not have to or or lesbian athletes, it doubly

makes their weaker. I wonder if you can respond to that. If gay and

lesbian athletes can come to a protest can wear a rendered pink,

will they be free from prosecution under the propaganda law? -- rainbow

pin. TRANSLATION: Protest actions and propaganda two slightly

different things. Similar but from a local pond of view, protesting

against the law is not the same thing against -- same thing as the

gander against homosexuality or child abuse.

Secondly, I would ask for colleagues and friends before criticising us to

sort out their own problems first. In some states in the US,

homosexuality is criminalised. So how can they criticise us for taking

a far gentler and more liberal approach than they have back? In the

run-up to this feast of sport, there were a lot of amnesties in Russia

stopped Greenpeace, Pussy Riot and so on. Your critics say that this is

the Russian bear putting on a smile just for Sochi and things would go

up -- go back to normal afterwards. Is there a heart of liberalism in

the Russian bear at the moment that we will see in the coming months?

TRANSLATION: What do you want me to say? I would like you to say that I

am a warm, Liberal president. I have changed my views and no one need

fear me in any way at all. TRANSLATION: It is true. That is the

answer? OK. TRANSLATION: One more thing. We did these things in honour

of the 20th anniversary of the Russian constitution. Secondly, it

was our law. The decision of the amnesty was not made by the

President. It was the prerogative of Parliament. It was not me who made

the decision but Parliament. But certainly support this initiative

and believe it is correct. We should also strike a balance between those

who committed these crimes and their victims. We talk a lot about the

situation of people in prison or under investigation but we should

never relegated the sidelines that people who are victims of these

crimes. TRANSLATION: I have heard you calling the individual baby,

your project. I have heard people say that this is a key factor in why

Russia has a chance to host them. Is there a connection between the Sochi

Olympics and your vision of a strong Russia? Some critics say that it is

linked your future political career. Can you comment? TRANSLATION: Major

events like the World Championships, the European Championships and the

Olympic Games encourage people, especially young people to do

sports, to build mass sports presentation. That certainly has a

positive impact on the health of the nation and makes sports popular,

interesting, and fashionable. I believe that all of that to be very

important. It is not just about my ambitions. It is in the interests of

the state and the people. No doubt, it gives them great pleasure to see

us do this but again, it is not because of personal ambitions. It is

also a moral aspect to this and there is no need to be ashamed of

it. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, after the dark and bloody

events in the Caucasus, people who -- people were negative and is

mystic. We had to pull together and realised that we can deliver

large-scale projects on time and to high standards. You sound confident,

your fat a powerful last year. You had been voted the third most

popular now in the world, beating the Pope. In the past, you said that

there was a possibility of standing for election again. Is that

possibility maturing and hardening in your mind? You don't seem to be

bored with being president. TRANSLATION: I don't think that one

should pay much attention to such ratings. No layperson can get the

better of the Pope. As for ambitions, it is too early to speak

of this. It is 2014. The elections are not until 2018. We have to get

on with the work now and then we will see.

The worst thing for a politician is to thrive and cling to power by

every possible means and focus only on that. In that case, failure is

inevitable because you are a rule is afraid you are making the wrong

step. -- you are always afraid. Should focus on work and do good

work. TRANSLATION: I do not know if this was intentional but now the

city of Sochi and other Russian cities are becoming more

user-friendly towards not only Paralympian 's but also disabled

people. This is quite visible. Much has to be done still but this is

progress. Was that your intention when you bought the Paralympics

here? TRANSLATION: Yes, it was. Moreover, we have a federal

programme on the so-called Barrier Free Environment. Unfortunately, I

have no doubt that creating such a programme will fall behind other

countries in the world. They regret it but it has been like that since

the Soviet times. I am greatly pleased that we are leading this

negative tradition behind. I would like Sochi to serve as an example

for all Russian cities on how to create an accessible environment.

Would you care to make a friendly bet with President Obama on who

would make more medals, Russia or the US? TRANSLATION: I would never

make that statement. Barack Obama himself loves sports very much.

Conceded he looks fine. He pays due attention to it and not only playing

sport but also the development of sport. We wish success to our

American friends, American athletes. I would like the sport not

to be soiled by politics. I think that we will all benefit from this.

But of course, first of all, we will support our athletes. We

traditionally have good results in winter sports. It is much more

important for Russia to create a favourable environment for the games

and to conduct them in the proper manner. It is very important that

our athletes to show their worth, courage, and skill. You have seen

you on horseback, we have cynically judo, ice hockey, and fish. Can you

tell us about your personal fitness regime these days? TRANSLATION:

Don't eat too much. Practice sports. There are no magic pill is here. I

do something every day. Yesterday, I was skiing into 1:30am. Go to the

gym. I swim a thousand litres a day. Nothing special but on a regular

basis. You know what they say, little by little, achieve success.

After that roundtable interview, rare enough in itself. I had an

opportunity to speak to the President personally. Mr President.

Thank you once again. We spoke at great length about gay rights but I

still don't understand completely your own views. If I were our most

prominent actor, Sir Ian McKellen and he were standing here and said,

do you have a personal problem with gay people, are you happy to work

closely with gay people, dear fuel that gay people are being

distributed to get in Russia, what would you tell him? TRANSLATION: If

you want my personality Tom I will tell you that I don't care about

someone's sexual orientation. -- personal attitude. I myself know

some people who are gay and we are on friendly terms. They are not

prejudiced in any way. -- I'm not. Is Sir Elton John as he did McKellen

arrived would you do speak to them about this? TRANSLATION: I would

definitely speak to them about this and I have honoured several members

of the gay community in this country for their personal achievements

regardless of their sexual orientation. I will send the message

back. This area reminds me very much in Scotland at times and in the

United Kingdom, we are facing a referendum this year about the Scots

going to vote as to whether to leave the UK. I know that there is a lot

of movement around the world for historical countries to leave the

country 's, a secessionist mood, if you like. The wonder what message

you may have you David Cameron in this big year for Britain?

TRANSLATION: It is not a matter for Russia. It is a domestic matters for

the UK. Any people have the right to self-determination. With Europe are

looting national sovereignty within the framework of Europe, it is more

acceptable. -- die looting. I believe that one should not forget

that being part of a single strong state has some advantages and one

should not overlook this. It is a choice for each and every people

according to their own circumstances. You could perhaps

invite the Scots to join your you new customs union? TRANSLATION: I

wouldn't rule out out. Thank you very much, Mr President.