Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has in strong terms criticized the new Russian anti-gay laws. "Incitement to hatred against LGBT people in Russia are on the rise after the new law. Disgusting. Inhuman." he wrote on Twitter.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a controversial anti-gay bill into law that would punish anyone who advocates gay marriage or any sexual behavior that is not between a man and a woman.

Four Dutch tourists were arrested in Russia for ‘gay propaganda’ 21 July, making them the first foreigners to be officially charged under the anti-gay law, Gay Star News said.

Last week, Sweden's foreign minister delivered a furious put-down to the Egyptian ambassador on Twitter, as reports emerged of dozens more dead in Cairo clashes. Carl Bildt's asked Ambassador Osama ElMagdoub whether the protesters were "shooting themselves" at the demonstrations, as the diplomat accused Bildt of not understanding Egypt.