Did he or didn’t he? Hours after Sir Elton John thanked President Vladimir Putin for phoning him to discuss gay rights in Russia, a spokesman for the Russian leader denied the conversation took place.
The singer said he wanted to talk about Putin’s “ridiculous” stance and comments from the Russian leader that gay people prey on children. He told the BBC he would “love to sit down with him” and try to change Putin's mind.
Russia has faced international criticism for its laws against homosexuality, including a 2013 bill prosecuting people for providing information about homosexuality to people under 18.
However, on Tuesday the musician thanked Mr Putin for “reaching out in a phone conversation, on the social media site Instagram.
Putin would be willing to talk to the musician, according to his spokesman (Getty)
“I will look forward to meeting with you face-to-face to discuss Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender equality in Russia,” Sir Elton wrote, alongside a picture of the Russian leader.
But within hours a Kremlin spokesman said no conversation between the two men had taken place, hinting that the call could have been a hoax.
read more: Elton John urges Ukraine to 'wake up' over gay rights
“Putin did not have a conversation with Elton John,” his spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies. “What's more, we have not received any requests from him for a meeting.”
Peskov added, however, that Putin would be willing to talk to the musician, who first performed in the then-Soviet Union in 1979 and still regularly plays shows in Russia, if he reaches out to him.
“The president has always been open to discuss human rights issues,” he said. “The president, I'm sure, will be ready to meet with Elton John, too, if there is such a request.”
