The Foreign Ministry reacted to Tolstoy's appeal about LGBT flags and statements by diplomatic missions

The Russian Foreign Ministry studied the appeal of State Duma Vice Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy (United Russia) in connection with statements by representatives of diplomatic missions of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain and the USA, as well as in connection with the appearance of flags of the LGBT community on the buildings of the embassies of the USA and Great Britain. According to the correspondent of the news agency on July 9, this was announced by the representative of the Foreign Ministry Ilya Timokhov during a meeting of the State Duma commission to investigate the facts of interference of foreign states in the internal affairs of the Russian Federation. The issues raised have been worked out. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has prepared a detailed material that reflects the position and measures taken, including in the legal plane. I will submit the materials to the commission, Timokhov said. Earlier, State Duma Vice Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy sent an appeal to the commission to investigate the facts of foreign interference in the internal affairs of the Russian Federation in connection with statements by representatives of diplomatic missions of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain and the United States, as well as in connection with the appearance of LGBT community flags on the buildings of the US and UK embassies. According to him, statements, in particular by Canadian Ambassador Alison Lecler, can be regarded as an attempt to pressure the free will of Russian citizens during a popular vote on amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation.