This could cause a furor within the former Soviet republic and in the region. Latvia shares a border with Russia and has a large Russian-speaking population that gets much of its information from media across the border. A group of social conservatives led by the controversial pro-Russian activist Vladimir Linderman, is currently gathering signatures in an effort to place a referendum on enacting a Russian-style “homosexual propaganda” ban on the ballot.

“Our country has created a legal framework for all types of partnerships, will fight for it, I know that will immediately megahistērja, but # Proudtobegay,” said the tweet as translated by Google translate. Neighboring Estonia passed a civil union law last month.

Neither the Latvian Foreign Ministry nor Latvia’s embassy in Washington could immediately be reached for comment.