From reading his actual words in context, I believe he was referring to the law in his nation that protects minors from the propaganda of homosexuality. He is not calling homosexuals 'pedophiles' by saying to 'leave the children alone.' He is merely saying to stop indoctrinating children with homosexual rhetoric.
It seems the media is at it again trying to ride the drama of the LGBT community against Putin and Russia. The victim-card never gets old.
Source:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russian-president-putin-links-gays-to-pedophiles/2014/01/19/7d9e64be-8105-11e3-a273-6ffd9cf9f4ba_story.html
http://groundreport.com/putin-may-be-correct-when-he-links-homosexuals-to-pedophilia/
http://nypost.com/2014/01/19/putin-gays-are-like-pedophiles/
