No joke this time -- Vladimir Putin did have a phone conversation with Sir Elton John.
The Russian president called the British singer on Thursday and said he was ready to meet with him to discuss any topics, Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, told Interfax.
The call comes a week after two Russian comedians pranked John in a phone call during which the LGBT campaigner believed he was speaking with the president about gay rights.
John, believing the call to be real, expressed his thanks to the head of state, who has signed a law banning "gay propaganda" and cracked down on LGBT rights during his 15 years in power, in a post on Instagram.
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. @president_vladimir_putin @ejaf #lgbt #lgbtrights #ShareTheLove Фото опубликовано Elton John (@eltonjohn) Сен 14 2015 в 8:11 PDT
Soon after, it came out that the call was merely a practical joke, and John posted a retort on Instagram.
Pranks are funny. Homophobia, however is never funny. I love Russia and my offer to talk to President Putin about LGBT rights still stands. I will always stand up for those that are being degraded and discriminated against. If this unfortunate incident has helped push this vital issue back into the spotlight, then I am happy to be pranked on this occasion. @ejaf @president_vladimir_putin #lgbt #lgbtrights #ShareTheLove Фото опубликовано Elton John (@eltonjohn) Сен 17 2015 в 3:10 PDT
A leaked recording of the conversation was later broadcast on Russian television and shared widely on social media.
"My position is that people who are gay should be included in all walks of life and given basic freedoms," Elton was recorded as saying in the prank call. "I've loved Russia ever since 1979 when I first came there, and I love Russian people and I love the country... I don't want to to get mixed up in the political dialog; I'm not a politician."
"If both our offices can find a convenient date where we can convene and have a really wonderful discussion, then that would be a miracle and would be fantastic, and it would be a dream come true," John added.
Peskov on Thursday said a phone call had really taken place this time, and that Putin had asked that John not be offended by the prank.
Peskov said the two would meet as soon as space in their calendars opened up.