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Putin phones Elton John, agrees to meet him — Kremlin

Putin told him that he knew about the recent prank and asked Elton John not be angry with the prankers

SEMIKARAKORSK /Rostov region/, September 24 /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has phoned British musician Elton John and agreed to meet him if their schedules coincided, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Thursday.

"The president gave a call to Elton John shortly after a conference," Peskov said adding Putin was the first to call the British musician.

Putin told him that he knew about the recent prank and asked Elton John not be angry with the prankers.

"Putin said he was ready to meet (Elton John) and discuss any issue which interests him if their schedules coincided," the Kremlin spokesman said.

Famous musician, signer and pianist Elton John wrote in Instagram in mid-September that he had talked to Russian President Vladimir Putin by telephone.

I would like to thank President Vladimir Putin for a telephone conversation, which we had today. I am looking forward to a vis-а-vis meeting to discuss problems of the LGBT community in Russia, Elton John wrote on his page in Instagram.

In a BBC interview, the British musician said he would like to meet Putin to discuss the living conditions of representatives of sexual minorities in Russia.

Last year, Sir Elton John officially married his long-time male friend David Furnish, with whom he had lived in civil partnership for many years.

The journalists asked Peskov to confirm or refute Elton John’s post in Instagram that he had allegedly talked to the Russian president.

"No, it is not true, there has been no conversation," Peskov said noting that the presidential administration was extremely cautious (about various remarks) because of a huge number of fake messages and accounts.

Later it turned out that two Russians had goofed on the British musician.

"In case we receive such a signal / that Elton John wants to talk to the Russian leader/, in case the president receives it, he, as always, will remain open to discussing any human problems and any questions," Peskov said commenting the joke in mid-September.

Last year, Sir Elton John officially married his long-time male friend David Furnish, with whom he had lived in civil partnership for many years.