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RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR Putin is unable to meet Elton John for a long-planned discussion of gay rights when the singer performs in Moscow next week, the Kremlin spokesman said today.
“Unfortunately this time it won’t work out,” Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, asked if Putin would manage to meet the star when he gives a concert in Moscow on Monday.
“The schedules don’t fit,” Peskov said.
That doesn’t mean such a meeting won’t happen next time.
Peskov said he “had been corresponding a couple of weeks ago” with the musician over a possible meeting.
“As you know, there was indeed an agreement that if their schedules fitted, there would be a meeting, President Putin expressed readiness to do this,” Peskov said.
Putin is set to travel to Greece later this week to meet Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and visit an Orthodox Christian holy site, although it was not clear if this was the reason why he could not meet the singer.
The British music legend, who is gay and is a prominent fundraiser for AIDS charities, said in September last year that he wanted to talk about gay rights with Putin.
“I’d love to meet him,” he told the BBC, saying he would tell the Russian leader: “Don’t isolate and be prejudiced against gay people.”
Putin in 2013 signed a hugely controversial anti-gay law banning the promotion or display of homosexuality to minors.
A pair of Russian pranksters shortly afterwards rang the singer pretending to be Putin and convinced him that the Russian leader wanted to meet.
Putin then responded with a genuine call, saying he was ready to meet for a discussion, but since then nothing more has been said of this.
Monday’s concert, when John may voice his views on gay rights in Russia, comes as Moscow city authorities have banned a gay pride event planned for Friday and Saturday, the sixth such ban under current mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
- © AFP 2016.
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The fact that Putin would take advice from a famous pop celebrity and gay diva on an issue as important as human/gay rights might indicate the President’s lack of sincerity with regard to this.
I dont think Russia is to worried
Gosh, are you suggesting that Putin might not be completely honest?
I’m shocked, I tell ya!
Meanwile in Russia http://kommersant.ru/doc/2995788. Heading “”Russian LGBT Network” presented on Tuesday its annual report on discrimination against gays, lesbians and transgender people in the country. According to the authors, “Antigay laws” increased the number of crimes against LGBT people. First of all we are talking about the numerous cases of physical violence, but notes and other offenses: blackmail, harassment, illegal dismissals, as well as attempts to limit parental rights. The study highlights that the police refused to investigate such crimes, the authors state that “homophobia has become part of the state ideology.”
Elton John?
Is he still alive?
Are you Cal – alive or gay, neither?
both, maybe
I’m alive (obviously given the fact I’m responding to you).
“I…..Em….like vaginas” least convincing ever. It’s OK to be gay Cal
It’s OK to be straight too Socrates.
How dare he does he not know who Elton is he’s friends with Bon o and pay more tax while I make millions Geldof.
My gaydar tells me that Putin is gay. I hope that eventually he succeeds in coming to terms with this. Not all straight people are nice; equally not all gay people are nice. Putin demonstrates this.
‘Gaydar’?
Sounds like a character from Game of Thrones.
Ah…okay!
@Fiona
@Cal, Did they not teach you about Gaydar at Sunday school?
Gaydar. Is that what you call vibrators these days
@Fintan.
As a Catholic your avatar disgusts me.
Get rid of it immediately.
@Cal, Not a chance. The lord loves a good avatar :-) He sent his only son down to be crucified so we, the lords children, could be priests, who smoke and listen to jungle music!
Well that’s a big drawback. He must’ve thought hard about Elton coming and, realized he couldn’t squeeze him in. I’m sure Elton will give him a mouthful for cancelling when they hook up next time….
Didnt know Elton spoke Russian!
have your say