Former Soviet country Estonia recognizes same-sex partnerships

The Estonian Parliament passed legislation to give legal protections to same-sex couples on Thursday, making it the first country within former Soviet jurisdiction to do so.

The Estonian “Cohabitation Act” allows both same-sex and opposite couples to register and receive almost all of the benefits that marriage would bestow on the relationship. One detractor is a lack of adoption rights. The law was signed in by the president of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik, who announced over twitter that it would take effect in 2016.

Russia has been attempting to influence many former Soviet nations with opposition to gay rights, causing strife between these nations and the European Union, which Estonia joined in 2004.

“It [says] to Europe that we are with you,” Kala, an Estonian LGBT activist, said to Buzzfeed. “Russia can see that we want to [stay] in the EU and get more support from EU countries.”