Today, Russia has introduced new measures banning the adoption of Russian children by unmarried citizens of countries where same-sex marriage is legal.

Russian news agency RIA reports that the change will affect countries that have in the past adopted large quantities of Russian orphans, including Spain, France and Canada. The ban will apply to married gay and lesbian couples, as well as unmarried couples.

“Adoptions can be carried out by members of either sex with the exception of… people in a union of two people of the same sex that has been registered as married according to the legislation of their country… and also unmarried people in such countries,” reads the decree, which has been signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Last July, President Vladimir Putin signed in a law banning the adoption of Russian children by same-sex couples. The introduction of this law caused widespread international criticism.