Elton John speaks out against anti-gay laws at Moscow show

British pop icon Elton John used a concert in Moscow to call on Russia to end discrimination against gays and lesbians, the Interfax news agency reported.

The openly gay singer said he was "sad to learn" about a Russian "anti-gay law", which bans what it calls homosexual propaganda to minors.

"He called for renouncing all discrimination, including that based on non-traditional sexual orientation," Interfax said, using an expression used in Russia for describing homosexuality.

According to the news agency and several messages on social networks, John dedicated his concert to Vladislav Tornovoi, a 23-year-old man who in May was tortured to death in Volgograd, southwest Russia, apparently for being gay.

That sordid crime raised an outcry from the gay community and gay-rights activists.

John, 66, was the first major Western star known for strong support of gay rights to play in Russia since President Vladimir Putin in June signed a national law banning "propaganda of homosexuality" to minors.