President Vladimir Putin stood by his old buddy, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, on Thursday. The president of Russia said that Mr Berlusconi would not have faced trial if he were a homosexual. Mr Berlusconi is being tried for having sex with a minor.

Mr Putin said that the reason behind Mr Berlusconi facing the trial was his heterosexuality. If he were a gay, nobody would have dared to say anything against him, he said. Mr Putin was talking to Russia experts and journalists on the issue.

Mr Putin's comment evoked immediate laughter in the gathering. His comment is apparently a strong reference against the criticism he has been facing due to the anti-gay law that he signed recently. The law imposes a ban on any sort of "anti-gay propaganda" among Russian minors.

In the meantime, major companies have warned that they may pull out of the Winter Olympics to be held in Russia in 2014. The companies are apparently quite apprehensive regarding the potential damage they may have to suffer to their business due to the anti-gay law.

The companies, which are apparently concerned about their involvement in the Winter Olympics, include McDonald's and Coca-Cola. They fear that there are going to be high profile demonstrations at the Games, which may lead to the companies grabbing loads of attention for all the wrong reasons. They are worried that they may suffer a boycott of their products due to their involvement in the Games, despite the anti-gay law.

Critics from all over the world have already been expressed that the law is an infringement of gay rights. They have also been apprehensive about possible arrests at the Olympics if anyone flaunts rainbow T-shirts or rainbow flags.

Pop icon Cher informed earlier that she had refused to perform at the Olympics on account of the anti-gay standpoint of the country. There is every possibility that other big names too may withdraw from the Games next year even though no athlete has expressed any willingness to do the same.

Video source: YouTube/Repubblica TV/judanetwork