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Two men who married in Copenhagen have reportedly had their marriage recognised in Russia - where same-sex nuptials are illegal.

Eugene Wojciechowski and Paul Stotzko tied the knot in the Danish capital earlier this month, and claim to be the first gay couple to have their marriage recognised in their homeland.

They submitted their passports on their return to Russia with an updated marital status, and said they had been formalised 'without superfluous questions'.

In an interview on Russian TV, they said it was a "shock" that they did not have to fight for their union to be recognised.

The move would be a landmark in a country where 80% of people view gay sex as 'reprehensible', according to a survey released this month.

However, Russia has been under huge worldwide scrutiny ahead of its hosting of the football World Cup this summer and The Kremlin's renowned propaganda machine may be aiming to generate positive headlines as it seeks to soften its image on human rights.

(Image: AFP)

According to Russia's Family Code laws, Rain TV reports, marriages conducted abroad are recognised as valid.

Homosexuality is not illegal in Russia, but Vladimir Putin's government has faced serious questions about its attitude to same-sex relationships.

Since 2013 it has been illegal for gay people to 'promote their sexuality', a law condemned by the European Court of Human Rights.

(Image: tvrain.ru) (Image: tvrain.ru)

Last year it emerged that hate crimes against LGBT people had doubled since the law was introduced,

Svetlana Zakharova, a board member with Russian LGBT Network, told Reuters in November last year: “(Offenders) have become more aggressive and less fearful.

"It seems to them that, to some extent, the government supports their actions. Many perpetrators openly talk about their crimes as noble deeds."

(Image: TASS)

A study by the Levada Center discovered that 83% of Russians thought gay sex was 'always reprehensible' or 'almost always reprehensible'.

Twenty years ago 68% were opposed to gay relationships, the Moscow Times reports.

Last year gay people in the Russian republic of Chechnya were rounded up and tortured, and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov denied that there were any gay people within the republic.