of Europe (CoE).

"This bill has prompted a wave of international criticism and it's no wonder," said Graeme Reid, LGBT Rights Program director at Human Rights Watch. "The draft is regressive and discriminatory, and represents a threat to human rights standards in Russia and internationally."

On June 11, the lower chamber, the State Duma, hastily and unanimously passed the bill. If the Federation Council approves the bill, it will be sent to President Vladimir Putin for his signature.

An IOC spokesman in a media interview reiterated the organization's "long commitment to non-discrimination." The IOC has been reluctant to criticize Russia, which will host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, for its human rights record. In a June 19 letter, Human Rights Watch called on the IOC to directly and publicly urge theRussian authorities to reject the law and prevent other forms of discrimination against LGBT people. Under the Olympic Charter, any such discrimination against a person is deemed "incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement."

On June 20, Catherine Ashton, high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy, said the law "could stigmatize particular groups and individuals and lead to discriminatory practices… and is therefore in contradiction with the European Convention on Human Rights." She also expressed concern about the "possible impact of the implementation of this law on the activities of LGBTI organizations in Russia also in the context of the ongoing pressure on civil society in the country."

On June 11, Hakon Haugli, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly rapporteur on discrimination on the grounds of