Reding boycotts Winter Olympics

Luxembourg's Viviane Reding has said she will “definitely not” attend the Winter Olympics in Sochi because of Russia's treatment of minority groups.

The European Commission Vice-President made the  announcement on Monday via Twitter.

"I certainly will not go to Sochi while minority groups are treated the way they are treated today by the Russian legislation," Ms Reding tweeted.

Reding, who is also Commissioner for Justice and Fundamental Rights, made her stand after President of the German Republic Joachim Gauck announced on Sunday he would not attend.

According to AFP, his spokesman said the intention was not to send a political message and indeed many of his predecessors have not attended Winter Olympic events in the past.

Russia, however, has interpreted the German leader's decision as a boycott with the Russian edition of Forbes magazine running the headline “German President Gauck announces boycott of Sochi Olympic Games.”

A handful of public figures in the West called for a boycott of the Games after a law was passed by President Putin in June punishing “propaganda” of homosexuality in front of minors. The law has been heavily criticised by human rights defenders as discriminatory.

The Winter Olympics take place in southern Russia from February 7 to 23, 2014.