WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. State Department on Friday reacted to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s signing into law the Yakovlev Act, a ban on American adoptions of Russian Children.
“We deeply regret Russia’s passage of a law ending inter-country adoptions between the United States and Russia and restricting Russian civil society organizations that work with American partners. American families have adopted over 60,000 Russian children over the past 20 years, and the vast majority of these children are now thriving thanks to their parents’ loving support. The Russian government’s politically motivated decision will reduce adoption possibilities for children who are now under institutional care. We regret that the Russian government has taken this step rather than seek to implement the bilateral adoption agreement that entered into force in November. We are further concerned about statements that adoptions already underway may be stopped and hope that the Russian government would allow those children who have already met and bonded with their future parents to finish the necessary legal procedures so that they can join their families.
“The limitations imposed by the Act on Russian civil society’s ability to work with American partners will also make it more difficult for Russian and American non-governmental organizations to cooperate in areas as diverse as human rights advocacy, open government, and electoral transparency. The United States remains committed to supporting the development of civil society and the democratic process around the world, including in Russia.”
On Thursday, the United Nations had called for Russia and Putin to give up the pursuit of the adoption ban, saying “We ask that the Government of Russia, in its design and development of all efforts to protect children, let the best interests of children – and only their best interests – determine its actions.”
What a laugh. Our Govt. talking about –open govt. and transparency. Really?
It’s bad enough when the politicians and bleeding heart liberals feel it’s the US’s job to save the world by giving money away like it’s water, but when the average citizen starts to think like that, I start to wonder where this country’s headed. Times have changed. And it’s time this country started to take care of itself first.
There are so many children here who are damaged by mothers who are on drugs when they are born, abused or neglected by the parents, and so on, that people are afraid to adopt some children born here. However, some of the foreign children have apparent attachment disorders like the one who was sent back on the airplane to Russia with a note. Orphanages over there are not all nice places. The mother who sent that boy back thought she had a psycho on her hands and she evidently didn’t get any help handling him from this country. What if she was afraid her son would turn into an Adam Lanza and no one here was paying any attention to her pleas for help? I always felt that her case was another failure of our mental health system. Unfortunately, it damaged our relations with Russia and has led to this decision by them. I feel it was possibly the lack of care and loving attention by the orphanage where that baby was housed or the baby was just plain wired wrong.
It’s their country, it’s their law. The United States should not even comment about how they run their personal, internal affairs.
What a shame that the Russians are using childern to apply pressure to get what they want. I guess it doesn’t surprise me to much as I still remember the cold war in the 50’s and the intimidation they tried then. I sure hope they don’t try it again as they might win with all the liberals we have here in The U.S. now. At the risk of making some people mad I guess I have to ask, why not adopt American kids? Don’t we have enough here that need homes? Why go over seas when the need it right here? Just asking?
My guess is they want to adopt a child from another country because they feel like it is having an exotic pet. Oh look at us we adopted a Russian baby.
I disagree that people look at foreign babies as an exotic pet. There are not many “domestic” babies available because of abortion, women keeping their babies, and the wait is very long if a couple wants a baby. Also, some couples are denied on the basis of age or other reasons here in the US. I have known many people who have adopted babies from foreign countries. It is not always smooth, cheap, or convenient, but there usually isn’t as long a waiting period. I had a friend who wanted a baby, hoping there would be less chance for any abuse, neglect, etc., in a baby, but when they got their Asian baby 30 years ago, the 4-mo old baby would not sleep in a bed, would not eat off a plate, grabbed every crumb in sight, and had a neurological disorder that she thankfully grew out of. So getting a foreign “baby” is no guarantee that they haven’t been deprived of food, affection, and basic amenities like a crib.
These couples are not looking for an exotic pet. They are looking for a healthier baby than they might get from the drug-ridden USA “market”. They are looking for a faster adoption with fewer restrictions. Private adoptions in this country are probably hard to find. There are a zillion ads placed by couples and I’m betting that the mothers try to get as much money as they can from the couples and there is always the fear they will change their minds. There are plenty of older children available for adoption, but there are risks associated with adopting some of them. See my post about the lady who sent the child back to Russia.
Well, someone will be telling me to shut up because I’m BORING.
Please tell us all what they want. Most people adopting want to help the ones that need it most. I have seen adopted kids here that could care less that people tried to help them through adoption because they had everything they needed before they were adopted. Many of the worst off orphans here have it better than the best off orphans elsewhere.
Why would you even bring liberals into this conversation? You have stated many times before that you are supposedly an independent yet every post you make tries to make a cynical comment about the winning side in the past election.
a lot of people want to adopt babies or very young children. There are more available overseas. I also want to know why you bring liberals into the mix on this one. Republicans or democrates have nothing to do with this
@Happy Guy-I could be wrong here but I always thought that liberals were socialist which is what Russia is. Also, people don’t seem to like communist very much.