Support The Moscow Times!
Contribute today

Gay Norwegian Minister to Take Husband to Sochi Paralympics

By The Moscow Times
Health Minister Bent Hoeie, who will be the Norwegian government's official representative at the Paralympics.

OSLO — Norway's health minister will make a point about gay rights in Russia by attending the Sochi Paralympics with his husband.

President Vladimir Putin has faced calls for a boycott of the Olympics over a law banning the spread of gay propaganda among minors. The Paralympics will be held in Sochi after the main Games.

Health Minister Bent Hoeie, who will be the Norwegian government's official representative at the Paralympics, said it was normal for a Cabinet official to travel with a spouse on such an official visit.

"Having said that, everyone understands what two married men think about gay rights," Hoeie told the Stavanger Aftenblad newspaper.

Norway has won more Winter Olympic medals than any other nation and is likely to finish high in the medal table in Sochi.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more

Overnight Strikes

Ukraine Hit Russian Fuel Depot Overnight: Defence Source

Kyiv has ramped up strikes on Russian oil and gas facilities in recent months, part of what it calls "fair" retaliation on infrastructure used to fuel...
1 Min read
Overnight Strikes

Russian Shelling Kills One in Ukraine's North East

The attack took place in Vovchansk, a city that lies about five kilometres (three miles) from the Russian border and has been frequently targeted throughout...
1 Min read
Ukraine War

Russian Newspaper Says Correspondent Killed in Ukraine

The attack took place on Friday as the journalist Semyon Eremin and his film crew returned from a reporting trip to the frontline village of Pryiutne,...
1 Min read
Overnight Strikes

Ukrainian Drone Strike Kills Two in Russian Border Region

A residential building and a barn in the village of Poroz were "completely burned down", regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said. Another building was...
1 Min read