New bill in Russia’s parliament: citizens of almost 50 ‘unfriendly countries’ to be barred from adopting Russian children

Russian MPs have introduced a new bill that would deprive citizens from “unfriendly countries” of adoption rights. The explanatory note says “handing out children to citizens of unfriendly countries does not meet Russia’s national interests, obviously.”

“Our President has stressed out many times that Russia’s long-term national interest is developing traditional spiritual and moral values, and that the image of Russia’s future is a happy and trouble-free family,” the MPs said.

They have also pointed out that over 455,000 orphans are currently living in foster families nationwide, and that the number of people ready to adopt children is constantly growing.

Russia’s list of “unfriendly countries” includes almost 50 UN-recognised states, including all EU members, Australia, Canada, Norway, Ukraine, the US, and the UK, as well as South Korea.

Russia’s State Duma adopted the so-called Dima Yakovlev Law in 2012 that banned US citizens from adopting Russian children, a law that was fiercely protested by Russia's civil society. The law was Russia’s response to America’s Magnitsky Act, aimed at punishing Russian officials responsible for the death of Sergey Magnitsky, a Russian tax lawyer who is believed to have been killed in prison for exposing corruption and misconduct by Russian government officials. The Act was adopted during Barack Obama’s presidency.