WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) introduced the Sanctioning Putin’s Enablers Act to hold the supporters of Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine accountable for their reprehensible actions.

“On Wednesday, President Zelenskyy addressed Congress with an impassioned plea for the United States to help his country and be the world leader of peace. We saw gut-wrenching images of Ukrainian towns being destroyed, hospitals being bombed, and babies lying dead in the streets. The situation is heartbreaking and dire. In his moving speech, President Zelenskyy specifically asked for the United States to sanction the Russian politicians who are supporting Putin’s attack on Ukraine. That is exactly what this legislation does. 

“Every single person, in Russia and Belarus, who has enabled Putin’s war crimes must answer for their actions. These sanctions are long-overdue, but hopefully our friends in Ukraine will not have to wait another day for them.”    

This legislation would: 

1. Sanction any individual who: 

• Served as a member of the Russian Federation Council and voted in favor of the invasion on Ukraine.
• Served as a member of the Russian State Duma and voted in favor of the invasion on Ukraine.
• Served as a member of the Russian Security Council who supported recognizing Donetsk and Luhansk as independent of Ukraine.
• Served as a member of the Central Election Commission of Belarus who orchestrated the constitutional referendum allowing Belarus to host Russian nuclear weapons.

1. Prohibit all transactions in the U.S. by any individual described above.
2. Ban all individuals listed above from receiving a visa or other documentation of entry to the U.S.
3. Revoke any current visa or entry documentation possessed by all individuals described above.
4. Confiscate any property or accounts in the U.S. owned by individuals described above and liquidate all assets. 
5. Reallocate any funds derived from liquidation to benefit Ukraine for the following purposes:

·         Weapons for Ukrainian armed forces

·         Humanitarian assistance

·         Post-conflict reconstruction

·         Refugee resettlement

Full bill text can be found HERE.