Russia may ban foreigners to adopt local children
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Defending the Rights of the Child, the Kremlin said Tuesday that Russia could prohibit foreigners to adopt in the country if Washington does not accept a treaty which would govern under Russian adoptions by American parents.
Moscow seeks adoption of a treaty because a single American woman sent by air to their adopted child of seven years back to Russia earlier this month, a fact that outraged Americans and Russians and stoked Tensions over the issue.
Pavel Astakhov told Reuters that the Government would take legislative action to formalize a freeze on adoptions of American families if Washington does not agree in principle to the treaty by mid May and set a deadline for signing.
After the controversial return of the child Artyom Savelyev, who was placed on a transatlantic flight with a note stating that the child was mentally unstable and violent, Astakhov said Russian lawmakers could go further and prohibit the adoption by any foreigner.
“It is better to resolve this issue within the law to seek changes to the law and face the that could completely prohibit international adoptions, “Astakhov said.
statements that the official made during an interview, seem intended to increase pressure on the United States before a U.S. diplomats visit this week to discuss the issue.
Astakhodd7v said Russia will give the U.S. delegation proposed text of a treaty, and expects a clear answer in the subsequent meeting scheduled for May 12.
“We would be enough if they accept a deal like this, if they accept the draft as a basis, and establish a timetable for signing the treaty,” Astakhov.
If the U.S. does not accept these conditions, Astakhov said the government will have to seek legislation to protect their interests, a move that could have unpredictable results.
“Parliament voted for a complete ban international adoptions,” he said. “That”s very easy to do, only change one line in the law,” he said.
(Published in Spanish by Ricardo Figueroa)