Author of Russia's 'Gay Propaganda' Law Sanctioned for Role in Ukraine Crisis

The author of Russia's "gay propaganda" law is among those sanctioned today by the U.S. government for their role in the Russian incursion into Ukraine.

Yelena Mizulina, a member of the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's Parliament, is one of the 11 political figures subjected to sanctions because they are "deemed to be responsible for the seizing of Crimea or otherwise interfering in Ukrainian sovereignty," The New York Times reports. Mizulina wrote the legislation banning "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relationships" to minors, essentially prohibiting the dissemination of any LGBT-supportive information in venues accessible to young people. It was passed by Parliament and signed into law by President Vladimir Putin last year.

Under an executive order signed today by President Obama, any assets owned by Mizulina and the 10 others within the U.S. will be frozen, and Americans will not be allowed to do business with them. They also will be denied visas for entry into the U.S.

The list includes "several top aides or allies" of Putin, but not Putin himself, the Times notes. This is the second round of sanctions approved by Obama; the first denied visas to about a dozen people but did not impose financial penalties. The administration reserved the right to sanction additional Russian leaders.

European officials also announced sanctions of 21 people today. The names will not be released until tomorrow, but the list includes some of the same people sanctioned by the U.S., the Times reports.