US Ambassador Criticizes New Adoption Law in Russia

U.S. Ambassador to Moscow Michael McFaul panned a new act passed by the Russian parliament which forbids Americans from adopting Russian children. The law, introduced by the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, was a reaction to the sanctions imposed on Russians who infringe on human rights.

“We are seriously concerned with the proceedings that make the fate of orphans reliant on political matters, which are entirely irrelevant in this regard,” announced McFaul.* “The welfare of children is simply too important to be linked to other issues in our bilateral relationship.”

The American diplomat added that the new act makes it impossible for civil society activists to cooperate with the U.S.

Last Friday, the Duma passed a law that imposes sanctions on those citizens of the U.S. and other countries who infringe the rights of the citizens of Russian Federation.

It also forbids Americans from adopting Russian children and bans NGOs financed by the U.S. government from activity in Russian territory, as well as those organizations which pose a threat to Russian interests.

This controversial legal act is meant to be an answer to the Magnitsky Act, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and approved by the Senate, which places sanctions on some Russians for human rights infringements.

The Russian act is waiting for the approval of the Federation Council, the upper house of their parliament. President Vladimir Putin has already expressed his support for the act.

According to a State Department spokesman, the issue will make it harder for the children to get a chance to live in a family atmosphere, in love and respect, which he called “especially worrying.”*

“About 60,000 Russian children have been admitted by American families in the last 20 years,” the spokesman pointed out, adding that orphans will be the real victims of the Russian decision. He also declared that the children are far more important than the “political aspects” of the relations between Russia and U.S.*

*Editor’s Note: These quotations, although accurately translated, could not be verified.