MOSCOW, Sept. 15 (UPI) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said he never spoke to Elton John about gay rights despite the British pop star saying otherwise.
A social media post by the iconic singer on Monday indicated he spoke to Putin and thanked the leader for “reaching out and speaking via telephone with me today.”
“I look to forward to meeting with you face-to-face to discuss LGBT equality in Russia,” the post said.
Putin’s representative, though, dismissed that claim Tuesday.
“I don’t doubt that if there is such a request, the president will be ready to meet with Elton John among others to give answers to all the questions that he might ask,” the representative said. “But we haven’t received such signals yet.”
John said over the weekend he wanted to speak to Putin to discuss the leader’s “ridiculous” attitude toward gay people. He has repeatedly criticized Putin in the past for Russia’s official stance on homosexuality.
