From Iceland — Illugi Never Met Putin

Illugi Never Met Putin

Published January 19, 2014

Nanna Árnadóttir
Photo by
Benson Kua

Minister of Culture and Education Illugi Gunnarsson has confirmed that he did not discuss LGBT rights with Putin while in Russia for the Sochi Winter Olympics, reports RÚV.

This came to light in parliament yesterday when Bright Future MP, Róbert Marshall, asked Illugi whether he had discussed LGBT rights in Russia with Putin after being prompted by Icelandic LGBT groups to do so.

“I am of the opinion, and I have said it before, that the Olympics is about peace and cooperation and is one of the few things that everyone on earth owns collectively, and I thought it was right that I, as the minister in charge of sports, was in attendance.

“However, as far as my opportunities [to discuss LGBT rights] were concerned, I never got the chance to discuss the issue with Putin or meet him. So the answer is no,” Illugi said.

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