They say that Pyotr Ilyich ...

They say that Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a homosexual. Truth be told, we don\'t love him because of that, but he was a great musician, and we all love his music. So what? I assure you that I work with these people. I sometimes award them with state prizes or decorations for their achievements in various fields. We have absolutely normal relations, and I don\'t see anything out of the ordinary here.
They say that Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a homosexual. Truth be told, we don't love him because of that, but he was a great musician, and we all love his music. So what? I assure you that I work with these people. I sometimes award them with state prizes or decorations for their achievements in various fields. We have absolutely normal relations, and I don't see anything out of the ordinary here.
 Vladimir Putin

Quotes from the same author

There is no such thing as a former KGB man.
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 Vladimir Putin
We [with Shindzo Abe] should understand that the results of that terrible tragedy of the 20th century, namely World War II, are enshrined in corresponding international documents, and finding a way to settle all disputes without destroying the entire foundation of international law that evolved as a result of World War II is a highly delicate task. Therefore, I would like to reiterate that we cannot second-guess the course, let alone the outcome of our negotiations.
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 Vladimir Putin
I believe that the 21st century economy is an economy of people, not of factories. The intellectual factor has become increasingly important in the economy, which is why we are planning to focus on providing additional opportunities for people to realise their potential.
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 Vladimir Putin
I was brought up in a very ordinary family, in fact, a worker's family. Both my father and mother were ordinary citizens.
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 Vladimir Putin
I would prefer to abandon the terminology of the past. 'Superpower' is something which we used during the cold war time. Why use it now?
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 Vladimir Putin