On Monday, August 12, Russia's Interior Ministry confirmed that the country's controversial anti-gay law will be enforced during the Sochi 2014 Olympics.

      Confusion has reigned over how the country intends to act during the February 7-23 Winter Games after Russian President signed legislation in June that bans the promotion of homosexuality to minors.

      "The law enforcement agencies can have no qualms with people who harbor a nontraditional sexual orientation and do not promote homosexuality to minors, do not conduct any kind of provocation and take part in the Olympics peacefully," said an Interior Ministry statement issued on Monday.

      In his turn, the head of of Russia's National Olympic Committee, Alexander Zhukov, said that if a person does not put across his views in the presence of children, no measures against him can be taken. He added that all people of nontraditional sexual orientations can take part in the competitions and all other events at the Games unhindered, without any fear for their safety whatsoever.

      However, many people still raise concerns about the vague definition of promoting homosexuality to minors. Some gay advocacy groups backed by public figures such as British writer and TV star Stephen Fry have called for a boycott of the Games, though world leaders including US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron have insisted it's the wrong way to tackle the issue.