Did Putin call Elton John? Singer says yes, Kremlin says no

A not so dynamic duo, Elton John and Vladimir Putin may have mixed signals. John says the Kremlin phoned him after the musician requested a meeting to discuss Russia’s anti-gay environment — but Putin’s spokesman is singing a different tune. Last week John criticized Russia’s law against gay “propaganda” and comments by Putin suggesting 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.

thank-you to President Vladimir Putin 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.

Elton John

On Instagram Tuesday the British star thanked Putin for reaching out, but Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies later that the Russian President never called John, though he would be willing to talk to the musician if he reaches out to him. John performed in the then-Soviet Union in 1979 and still regularly plays shows in Russia.

The president has always been open to discuss human rights issues.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov

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