Story highlights
Hollande has no plans to go to the Winter Olympics in Russia, foreign minister says
The move comes on the heels of German President Joachim Gauck's similar choice
Russia has been criticized for human rights abuses and discrimination
Count one more world leader out of the Winter Olympics, which start February 7 in Sochi, Russia.
French President Francois Hollande will not be attending the Sochi Games, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Sunday.
Less than a week afterGerman President Joachim Gauck chose to boycott the Olympics, Fabius was asked about Hollande’s plans for the Games.
“This (has) not been planned … to attend,” Fabius responded. “But at the same time I wish all the success for these games. But for now, it is not expected that the highest French authorities attend.”
Like German officials, Fabius declined to explain the decision further.
Eighty kings, queens, presidents and other world leaders attended the opening ceremony for the 2012 London Summer Olympics, according to the British newspaper The Guardian.
Host country Russia has been receiving scrutiny and criticism for alleged human rights violations, harassment of opposition political figures, and a law passed earlier this year banning “gay propaganda,” which critics have said promotes discrimination.
German president will not attend Olympics in Russia
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CNN’s Lindsay Isaac and journalist Niki Cook contributed to this report
