Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin in Sochi. The rare visit also saw the German chancellor confront Putin over rights issues in Russia, including the alleged persecution of gay men in the North Caucasus region of Chechnya. "We cannot think about any alternative and we should not have to think of it," Putin said at a press conference. At the press conference Merkel said she raised recent high-profile accusations of rights abuses in Russia, including allegations the authorities in Chechnya were rounding up gay men. "I asked President Putin to use his influence to guarantee the rights of minorities."

Source: The Local May 02, 2017 15:45 UTC