Elton John is due to perform in Russia this Friday and Saturday – but the concerts could be called off by local officials if they believe his performances will break their ‘gay propaganda’ laws.

Despite Sir Elton being one of the most famous performers in the world, having sold more than 250 million records worldwide, if officials suspect he’s going to use his appearances to rail against Russia’s new rulings, they will pull the plug, according to The Times.

Quoting Russian paper Your Day, it reports that preparations for the concerts – in Moscow’s Crocus City Hall and Kazan – have already been a considerable expense.

The rider – a list of requests – apparently runs to 50 pages and includes his hotel dressing room in Moscow being turned into a ‘paradise garden’ populated by ‘decorative birds’ and trees.

 
Sir Elton said he wanted to perform in Russia to support the gay community.

This summer, anti-gay campaigners warned Elton not to wear ‘flamboyant’ clothes at his planned concert in Krasnodar in July.  The concert was later cancelled when the singer fell ill.