All news

Duma MP calls for allowing US adoptions of disabled children

“At present, necessary procedures on adoptions of another 46 children have been underway, but this ban will deprive them of the chance to get a family,” Shlegel said
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, December 29 (Itar-Tass) — Parliamentarian from the ruling party United Russia Robert Shlegel initiated to submit an amendment to the law in retaliation to the U.S. Magnitsky Act that will allow U.S. citizens to adopt Russian children with disabilities.

The text of his initiative was placed on the State Duma’s website on Friday.

“Disabled orphan children are one of the most vulnerable social groups,” he said adding that around 45,000 disabled children remain in Russia’s orphan houses. “The total ban on adoptions of Russian children by U.S. citizens mean that some disabled children, possibly, will be unable to find an adoptive family and to get necessary medical support,” he said.

The parliamentarian noted that in 2011 American families adopted 44 children with disabilities from Russia.

“At present, necessary procedures on adoptions of another 46 children have been underway, but this ban will deprive them of the chance to get a family,” Shlegel said.

On Friday President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning Americans to adopt Russian children and imposing other sanctions, including visa and financial restrictions on Americans accused of violating the rights of Russians abroad and a temporary ban on some non-governmental organizations that receive U.S. funding.