A Russian MP has reportedly called for the right of marines to whip gay people in public.

Alexander Mikhailov is deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Trans-Baikal Parliament and said he plans to put forward the violent proposal as a new regional law.

Speaking to the Chita news agency on Thursday, Mr Mikhailov linked gay people to paedophiles and suggested they should be whipped in public squares by “marines”.

He described homosexuality as a “common shame”.

Referencing a doctor, who criticised the decision of several European countries to legalise marriage rights for same-sex couples, Mr Mikhailov praised the doctor and reportedly said: “We have to deal with such things”. He added that his province should adopt a law in which the marines have the right to flog the “asses” of gay people.

“In Russia for many centuries the ass was used for educational purposes and not for love entertainment. So we should use it according to its intended purpose,” the MP said.

Last week, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning Russian MPs for passing a draconian homophobic censorship law.

Earlier this month, President Vladimir Putin said he would back a ban on foreign same-sex couples from adopting Russian children, but denied it amounts to homophobic discrimination.