Sam Smith declines Russia gigs over country's anti-gay rights law

Sam Smith has vetoed Russia gigs in protest over country's president Vladimir Putin's negative stance on gay rights.

The 22-year-old has declined numerous invitations to perform in Russia because of a controversial anti-gay rights law passed by Putin's government in 2013, the Mirror reported.

The propaganda law banned the portrayal of "nontraditional" sexual relations to minors and, while the English singer was at pains to point out he didn't hate the country, he thinks its treatment of gay people was "disgusting".