AceShowbiz -

Sir Elton John did use his concert in Russia as an opportunity to criticize the country's controversial law which bans the "propaganda of homosexuality" to minors. During a Friday, December 6 show in Moscow, the openly gay British musician interrupted his own gig to voice his opinion about the legislation.

"I am deeply saddened and shocked over the current legislation that is now in place against the [homosexual] community here in Russia," John, who is in a civil partnership with filmmaker David Furnish, said. "In my opinion, it is inhumane and it is isolating. Harmony is what makes a happy family and a strong society."

However, John was careful enough not to criticize Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia who signed the anti-gay law last year.

John ended his speech by dedicating his concert to Vladislav Tornovoi, a 23-year-old man who was murdered in the southern city of Volgograd earlier this year for allegedly being gay. The star was expected to make similar move against the law when he performed another show at Volga city of Kazan on Saturday.

Earlier this month, Russian media reported that John's two shows in the country were "on the verge of collapse" after the singer insisted that he wanted to use it as a platform to express his solidarity with the country's gay community. The organizers later said that the shows would "go ahead as planned."