An article in Russia’s biggest selling newspaper has attacked Manchester for being full of “many fat people” and “disgusting” gay couples.

The column, published amid international alarm over the detention and torture of gay men in Chechnya, argued that Moscow must not follow the British city’s “frightening” example.

Alisa Titko, a columnist for tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda, was shocked when she found herself in Manchester’s Gay Village.

“There is a whole part of the city for gay people,” she described.

“There is even a plaque there saying ‘Gay Village’.

“It is the most popular place for such couples, there are cafes and clubs there with small rainbow flags.”

Ms Titko described the “disgusting” sight of same-sex couples openly holding hands and kissing in bars, amid “explicit” murals, including art depicting Batman and Superman kissing.

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“At one of the tables, there was a wedding of two rather large girls,” she wrote.

“It is such a pleasure that there are no such gay streets in Moscow.”

Ms Titko also attacked women in Manchester for allegedly having rolls of fat “hanging from their bodies” and wearing leggings and miniskirts.

“Their women are so fat, they look disgusting to their men,” she quoted a Russian friend as saying, after panicking that onlookers might assume they had “something going on”.

“You see, they eat so much fast food and potatoes.

“And they drink beer from huge glasses. Here is the result.”

Ms Titko wondered whether it was possible that men “turn gay because girls are too fat and non-sexual”, adding: “It can influence it.”

LGBT+ rights around the globe Show all 9 1 /9 LGBT+ rights around the globe LGBT+ rights around the globe Russia Russia’s antipathy towards homosexuality has been well established following the efforts of human rights campaigners. However, while it is legal to be homosexual, LGBT couples are offered no protections from discrimination. They are also actively discriminated against by a 2013 law criminalising LGBT “propaganda” allowing the arrest of numerous Russian LGBT activists. AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Brunei Brunei recently introduced a law to make sodomy punishable by stoning to death. It was already illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Mauritania Men who are found having sex with other men face stoning, while lesbians can be imprisoned, under Sharia law. However, the state has reportedly not executed anyone for this ‘crime’ since 1987 Alamy LGBT+ rights around the globe Sudan Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Sudanese law. Men can be executed on their third offence, women on their fourth Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Saudi Arabia Homosexuality and gender realignment is illegal and punishable by death, imprisonment, whipping and chemical castration Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Yemen The official position within the country is that there are no gays. LGBT inviduals, if discovered by the government, are likely to face intense pressure. Punishments range from flogging to the death penalty Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Nigeria Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal and in some northern states punishable with death by stoning. This is not a policy enacted across the entire country, although there is a prevalent anti-LGBT agenda pushed by the government. In 2007 a Pew survey established that 97% of the population felt that homosexuality should not be accepted. It is punishable by 14 years in prison Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Somalia Homosexuality was established as a crime in 1888 and under new Somali Penal Code established in 1973 homosexual sex can be punishable by three years in prison. A person can be put to death for being a homosexual Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Iraq Although same-sex relationships have been decriminalised, much of the population still suffer from intense discrimination. Additionally, in some of the country over-run by the extremist organisation Isis, LGBT individuals can face death by stoning Getty

She blamed a rise in the number of LGBT people coming out in Russia on their mothers failing to beat them enough as children.

“Let’s remain Russian,” the article concluded. “Start normal families. Have children in wedlock. And not confuse love with debauchery.”

The Komsomolskaya Pravda article dismissed growing calls for tolerance in Russia, where an anti-gay “propaganda law” was introduced in 2013 claiming to “protecting children from information advocating for a denial of traditional family values”.

It has been used to prosecute LGBT activists and charities, as well as online support groups for teenagers in Russia, where gay couples are frequently harassed.

In the Russian republic of Chechnya, more than 100 men have reportedly been detained and tortured, with several killed after being identified as suspected “homosexuals”.

The Kremlin has backed denials by the Chechen government, whose officials appeared to encourage relatives to kill gay men in “honour killings”, while arresting activists protesting against the campaign in St Petersburg.