Elton John offers to meet with Vladimir Putin

In an effort to control the homophobia currently rampent in Russia Elton John has offered to sit down and talk in person to the Russian president Vladimir Putin in an effort to promote gay rights in the country.

Reports of homophobic attacks have exploded in current months in a Russia which holds staunch views regarding gay issues. In fact Putin just passed a law in June 2013 that made it legal to prosecute individuals promoting "homosexual behaviour among minors".

Speaking to BBC News, John said Putin's attitude to gay people was "isolating and prejudiced" and "ridiculous" and cited comments made by the President in 2014 about gay people targeting children.

"Give me a break," John said. "You are President of Russia, and you go and say stupid things like that?"

I would like to meet [Mr Putin]," he added. "It's probably pie in the sky... He may laugh behind my back when he shuts the door, and call me an absolute idiot, but at least I can think I have the conscience to say I tried."