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| President Putin shrugs off German and Dutch protests | President Putin shrugs off German and Dutch protests |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin has been greeted by protests in Germany and the Netherlands as he met the leaders of both nations for trade talks. | Russian President Vladimir Putin has been greeted by protests in Germany and the Netherlands as he met the leaders of both nations for trade talks. |
| Hundreds of gay rights activists picketed outside his meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Amsterdam. | Hundreds of gay rights activists picketed outside his meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Amsterdam. |
| Earlier, three topless members of Ukrainian women's group Femen briefly interrupted his visit to a German trade fair with Chancellor Angela Merkel. | Earlier, three topless members of Ukrainian women's group Femen briefly interrupted his visit to a German trade fair with Chancellor Angela Merkel. |
| Mr Putin joked about the incident, saying he "liked this performance". | Mr Putin joked about the incident, saying he "liked this performance". |
| The female activists had bared their torsos, covered in anti-Putin slogans, and shouted "Putin dictator", while he was touring the business fair with Ms Merkel in the German city of Hanover on Thursday morning. | The female activists had bared their torsos, covered in anti-Putin slogans, and shouted "Putin dictator", while he was touring the business fair with Ms Merkel in the German city of Hanover on Thursday morning. |
| Femen have staged several protests around Europe against Russia's detention of feminist punk band Pussy Riot. | |
| "We knew it was coming," Mr Putin quipped at a press conference with Mrs Merkel. "You should thank the Ukrainian girls for helping you promote the fair." | "We knew it was coming," Mr Putin quipped at a press conference with Mrs Merkel. "You should thank the Ukrainian girls for helping you promote the fair." |
| 'Human rights-free zone' | 'Human rights-free zone' |
| After his short stay in Germany, the president then flew to Amsterdam where he faced further protests, this time from gay rights activists accusing Russia of discriminating against homosexuals. | After his short stay in Germany, the president then flew to Amsterdam where he faced further protests, this time from gay rights activists accusing Russia of discriminating against homosexuals. |
| In particular, demonstrators were angry about a new Russian bill aimed at outlawing "gay propaganda". | In particular, demonstrators were angry about a new Russian bill aimed at outlawing "gay propaganda". |
| If passed, it would mean that across Russia events promoting gay rights would be banned and the organisers fined. | If passed, it would mean that across Russia events promoting gay rights would be banned and the organisers fined. |
| Protesters booed and whistled at Mr Putin's arrival at the Hermitage Museum, while human rights group Amnesty International had put up fake police tape proclaiming the area a "human rights-free zone". | Protesters booed and whistled at Mr Putin's arrival at the Hermitage Museum, while human rights group Amnesty International had put up fake police tape proclaiming the area a "human rights-free zone". |
| Meanwhile houses and bridges in Amsterdam's historic canal district were draped with banners and the rainbow flag of the gay movement. | Meanwhile houses and bridges in Amsterdam's historic canal district were draped with banners and the rainbow flag of the gay movement. |
| But the Russian leader remained unfazed by the demonstrations. | But the Russian leader remained unfazed by the demonstrations. |
| "Thank god, the gays didn't strip naked here," he joked at a press conference in Amsterdam. | "Thank god, the gays didn't strip naked here," he joked at a press conference in Amsterdam. |
| Mr Putin also deflected criticism over Russia's treatment of gay rights, saying: "These people, like others, have all rights and freedoms." | Mr Putin also deflected criticism over Russia's treatment of gay rights, saying: "These people, like others, have all rights and freedoms." |