Russian president Vladimir Putin sat down with Charlie Rose of US current affairs programme ’60 Minutes’.

In a rare US television interview, Putin spoke to journalist Charlie Rose about homophobia in Russia – saying that the problem has been “exaggerated”.

He told Rose,”The problem of sexual minorities in Russia had been deliberately exaggerated from the outside for political reasons, I believe, without any good basis.

“We have no persecution at all. People of non-traditional sexual orientation work, they live in peace, they get promoted, they get state awards for their achievements in science and arts or other areas. I personally have awarded them medals.”

Putin made headlines last week when he agreed to meet with singer Elton John to discuss LGBT rights.

Watch the interview below: