'This is close to a crime against humanity dressed up in the name and under the flag of progress.'
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has claimed it is "monstrous" that children in the West are taught about transgender issues and the idea they can change their gender.
The Kremlin leader said: "(It is a) simply monstrous moment when children are pushed to believe from early on that a boy can easily become a girl, and vice versa.
"They are pushed to believe they have a choice, imposed while parents are swept aside. And a child is forced to make a decision that can break their life."
Speaking to the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi, he labelled teaching children about transgender issues as a crime against humanity "dressed up in the name and under the flag of process."
According to the
MailOnline, he then claimed that "no one even consults child psychologists on whether a child of a certain age is able to make these kind of decisions."
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Russia has some of the strictest anti-LGBT laws in Europe, with same-sex marriage banned.
In 2013 the country was condemned by much of Europe for passing a law banning "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships."
Earlier this year, the
country changed its constitution to state that marriage can only exist between a man and a woman. The changes to the constitution also banned trans people from adopting.
Homosexuality was a criminal offence in the country until 1993, and was still classed as a mental illness until 1999.
As a result of these laws, homophobia is rife in the country.
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