[Redbob]

That's too bad: Russia doesn't have the resources to care for their orphans, but Putin's xenophobia makes him want to insure that nobody else cares for them either.

[sittnick]

There are probably several hundred adoption organizations doing business in Russia, barring 12 is probably very much in bounds. There are a lot of countries that are a lot more restrictive in adoption than Russia.

[AngryJawa]

What the Russian Prosecutor is actually saying is:

"These damn American agencies are starting to complain about the out-and-out corruption, bribery, and thievery associated with trying to adopt a Russian baby. This will shut them up. Screw the kids. The Russian Cleptocracy *will* get our cut."

[PAR35]

including the reporting on the living conditions of Russian children adopted by foreign citizens

Russia does have formalized post-adoption requirements for reports and photos. It isn't that burdensome. My guess is that the agencies in question weren't collecting and forwarding the required paperwork.

[gakrak]

I am really dismayed at this news. As adoptive parents of two Russian orphaned girls (ages 9 mo and 11 mo at time of adopting them)I can attest to the semiannual reports of the children's health and well being. Our agency would contact us if we were even three to five days late in reporting. This was done up to age 4. That was three years ago, so maybe the agencies got lax and will now pay for there neglect. Amen.

[Spirited]

Perhaps they only want Iranian adoption agencies to function there.

[Liberal Classic]

Being that my wife and I are trying to adopt and are considering international adoption, my opinion of this situation is it is more politics than the condition of adopted children in the U.S. Russia is not the only nation to prevent adoptions from the U.S., Costa Rica has announced a moratorium on adoptions by parents from the U.S. because we haven't fully implemented the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. The U.S. is a signatory to the convention, but the sticking point seems to be that not all of the enabling legislation has made it through Congress.

The text of the CONVENTION ON PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND CO-OPERATION IN RESPECT OF INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION can be found on the Hague Conference on Private International Law" website.

Most likely, they are referring to the lack of reporting requirements, not the actual condition of children adopted by U.S. citizens. As a rule, children of international adoption fare very well here. My wife and I know several familes who have adpoted abroad, both from China and from Russia.

[primeval patriot]

A little perspective on the numbers of Russian children being adopted.

************************

Russia Federation

PATTERNS OF IMMIGRATION OF ADOPTED ORPHANS TO THE U.S.: Recent U.S. immigrant visa statistics reflect the following pattern for visa issuance to orphans.

FY 2003.....................................5209

FY 2002.....................................4939

FY 2001.....................................5004

FY 2000.....................................4687

FY 1999.....................................4470

Source: U.S. Department of State

************************

A message board for families who already have already adopted or want to adopt children from former Soviet countries.

Families for Ukrainian and Russian Adoption

************************

And a rather large site of a secular charity aiding orphanages in the Ukraine. Sort of hard to navigate but many pictures of the conditions these orphans live in.

Life2Orphans

[Lion in Winter]

I know it is your Holy Week but here is an article you may find that you want to comment upon.

Regards, lion.

[daivid]

I think the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court adopted his kids in Argentina.

There are plenty of white kids available in South America for adoptive parents who want their kids to look like them.