A leading Kyrgyz politician has called for the public execution of LGBTI people ‘in order to cleanse society.’

MP Narynbek Maldobaev made the comments in a 26-minute film about the central Asian country by Vocativ.

One resident of the capital Bishek said local people did not want ‘Western ideas about gays and lesbians’ and the lawmaker went as far as to say they should all be exterminated.

‘If it were up to me, I would round them up, the despicable criminals. I’d bring them to a public square and there I would publicly punish them,’ he said.

Asked if by ‘punish’ he meant execute, Madobaev said, ‘Yes. That’s about right.’

‘In order to cleanse society.’

Although gay sex is legal in Kygryzstan, lawmakers in October overwhelmingly voted in favor of a Russian-style law that will punish ‘gay propaganda’ with up to a year in jail.

Watch the full video below: