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As the western world gangs up on Russia ahead of the Sochi Olympics to draw attention to new anti-gay laws Canada’s foreign minister has publicly decried as “hateful,” those inclined to flee the increasingly repressive regime may be looking here for safe refuge.

While too soon to say whether a crackdown on homosexuals in Russia will result in a spike in refugee claims from that country, at least one Vancouver lawyer who deals exclusively with gay and lesbian asylum claimants is beginning to notice a difference.

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Rob Hughes handles a few dozen lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) cases a year and the last time he had a Russian client was before the fall of the Soviet Union — until now.

Since March, he’s taken on two.

I think it indicates just how afraid people are

“To get two cases from Russia in such a short period of time, I think it indicates just how afraid people are,” he told Postmedia News, adding Russians do need a visa to come to Canada which could be a barrier for some.