"Every former whore seeks to lecture everyone on morality as she gets older. Especially during tours and gigs abroad," Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin tweeted.

At her packed concert in a Moscow stadium on Tuesday night, the US Queen of Pop said she dreamed of a world in which everyone had the right to express himself freely.

Stripping to a black bra, she called on the Russian authorities to release the three members of the all-girl punk band who are standing trial for performing a song criticising President Vladimir Putin at Moscow's biggest church in February.

"Either take off your cross or put on your knickers," she added.

Gay activists had earlier called on Madonna to cancel her concerts in Russia as a gesture of support for the gay community.

"If you position yourself as a defender of human rights you need to do something more substantial," said Gavrikov, accusing Madonna of hypocrisy.

Saint Petersburg earlier this year introduced fines for those "promoting homosexuality" to minors. Homosexuality is not a crime in Russia. Russia stopped classifying homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1999 but homophobia is still rampant.