Elton John has written a strongly worded statement condemning Russia’s anti-gay law.

The stringent law has been under fire for months from human rights groups and has politicized the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Putin inflamed the singer after he cited John as an example of how Russia embraces gay people. The 66-year-old singer performed in Moscow last month and also used the occasion to condemn the law.

“What I heard reinforced all the media stories that have been circling since the propaganda bill became federal law: that vicious homophobia has been legitimized by this legislation and given extremists the cover to abuse people’s basic human rights,” John wrote in his 500-word essay.

“Everyone shared stories of verbal and physical abuse – at work, in bars and restaurants or in the street – since the legislation came into force last June,” he said.

The law bans the publication of so-called “gay propaganda,” which has been widely interpreted to crackdown on almost all gay activities.

Putin has offered to meet with John and other gay celebrities.

John himself came under fire from Russsian homophobia groups before his concert. They lobbied Putin to cancel the shows in Moscow and Kazan.

John has performed in Russia on several occasions going back to the 1970s, when it was still a Communist state.

“In particular, it is very disappointing that the law explicitly links homosexuality with child sex abuse, which countless studies have shown to be conclusively wrong,” the singer said.

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