The Kemerovo regional legislature, which last summer became the first Russian lawmaking body to ban the adoption of local children by U.S. families, passed a new law Wednesday making adoption by any foreigner or stateless person illegal.
The legislature planned to send a memorandum Wednesday asking the State Duma to consider the initiative as well.
"We think that the adoption of young citizens is an internal affair of Russia, an internal affair of Kuzbass," said Galina Solovyova, deputy chairman of the regional education committee, Itar-Tass reported. Kuzbass is another name for Kemerovo.
The bill was drafted in response to a series of complaints from local residents who were distressed by reports of adopted children falling into abusive homes abroad, Solovyova said. She also mentioned the legalization of gay marriage abroad as a second reason for keeping orphans within the country's borders.
"If a family stops liking a child or can not cope with his upbringing, then information about the child is put on a message board. As a result, bypassing special foster care agencies, children can end up anywhere and with anyone," the deputy said, Interfax reported.
Reports that a 13-year-old Russian orphan was left in the care of a sexually abusive family in the U.S. received widespread coverage in September both in the U.S. and in Russia. The Investigative Committee is currently looking into the allegations.
The State Duma passed a law late last year banning adoption of Russian children by American citizens, and authorities justified the measure in part by citing cases in which adopted Russian children in the U.S. died due to negligence or were abused by their caregivers.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.