Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to sign a bill that would prevent Americans from adopting Russian children:
The bill is widely seen as the Kremlin’s retaliation against an American law that calls for sanctions against Russians deemed to be human rights violators. It comes as Putin takes an increasingly confrontational attitude toward the West, brushing aside concerns about a crackdown on dissent and democratic freedoms.
Dozens of Russian children close to being adopted by American families now will almost certainly be blocked from leaving the country. The law also cuts off the main international adoption route for Russian children stuck in often dismal orphanages: Tens of thousands of Russian youngsters have been adopted in the U.S. in the past 20 years. There are about 740,000 children without parental care in Russia, according to UNICEF.
…
“Since 1992, American families have welcomed more than 60,000 Russian children into their homes, providing them with an opportunity to grow up in a family environment,” [State Dept.] spokesman Patrick Ventrell said in a statement from Washington. “The bill passed by Russia’s parliament would prevent many children from enjoying this opportunity …
This bill would also affect pending adoptions. If the bill is signed into law, 46 children would be forced to remain in Russia:
Heart is breaking for the 46 American families whose Russian adoptions are almost final – but are now frozen. Devastating. #fb
— Deborah Bowen (@DisneyDeborah) December 27, 2012
https://twitter.com/JackieSquid/status/284295172873936897
Absolutely monstrous. Conservative author and commentator Laura Ingraham, who has two adopted Russian children, took to Twitter to express her disappointment and disgust:
Where is U.S. diplomacy? Pls help poor abandoned children & US families: Putin says he will sign anti-US adoption bill http://t.co/V2y3ckZw
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) December 27, 2012
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I may have to fly to Russia myself at this point & try to meet with Putin myself. He can see for himself how my boys are thriving here.
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) December 27, 2012
Hundreds of US families are already in process of adopting Russian children, incl disabled children who will now remain institutionalized.
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) December 27, 2012
Let's send vids or photos of all our Russian-born adoptees to Putin. "@Cestory516: My niece&nephew from Russia. They are such a blessing!"
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) December 27, 2012
Children first. "@TerriDonato: @IngrahamAngle my cousin adopted two beautiful girls from Russia. They are thriving."
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) December 27, 2012
Children First! "@Cestory516: @TheTAmericanist @noleville My 10yo Russian nephew makes all A's in school! These children need our help!"
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) December 27, 2012
"@EconJunkie My sis & husband tried 2adopt in US 1st–wait wd hv bn yrs. They adopted 2 boys frm Ukraine less than a yr." #childrenfirst
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) December 27, 2012
No, they are not objects–innocent CHILDREN. "@raymondtm: Worthy cause, Laura, but afraid it's just another shiny object…" #childrenfirst
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) December 27, 2012
President Putin–find your heart. "@Lil_Lori: @IngrahamAngle @TerriDonato My cousin adopted a brother and sister from Russia. Amazing kids."
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) December 27, 2012
Innocent Children. "@mama2fluffs: @pbralich @Lil_Lori @TerriDonato granddaughter is from Russia….greatest kid ever!" #PutinFindYourHeart
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) December 27, 2012
Many other Twitterers with friends or relatives who have adopted or have been adopted weighed in with testimonials of their own:
@mama2fluffs @arthuromeo I know numerous ppl who've adopted from Russia or China & as a foster mother, I know how important family is 4 kids
— Jenna (@MomForProgress) December 27, 2012
my cousin was adopted from #russia, so their whole "let's ban US adoptions!" is a bunch of horse crap. not cool, vladimir. #adoption #usa
— mallory (@malloryjn) December 27, 2012
https://twitter.com/carolt2000/status/284312907611787264
@IngrahamAngle my wife was adopted from Russia when she was six, and our daughter just turned 1 this year.
— Chris~BigK (@Chris_BigK) December 27, 2012
@taraflanagan I would be beside myself if I was in process reading this. My bro adopted from Russia. Not easy but my nephew is a blessing.
— SashaCharninMorrison (@sashacharnin) December 27, 2012
@IngrahamAngle @TerriDonato My cousin adopted a brother and sister from Russia. Amazing kids.
— L Spaulding (@Lil_Lori) December 27, 2012
https://twitter.com/kirs10matson/status/284310465377615873
I have 2 sisters & 1 brother adopted from Russia. Mr. Putin, this law is outrageous. http://t.co/pHHmAQZV #awful
— MDMRN (@MDMRN) December 27, 2012
In Russia, my handicapped brother would be currently 18 yrs old, still without a leg, and most likely homeless. I'm thankful he was adopted
— MDMRN (@MDMRN) December 27, 2012
And parents of adopted Russian children are heartbroken:
@JedediahBila @FoxNews Having adopted 2 children from Russia this is very sad news. The conditions over there are not good.
— Simon (@FromMissouri2) December 27, 2012
As the father of an adopted Russian daughter, this breaks my heart. http://t.co/H2NJB3h5
— Mark Chouanard (@chouanard) December 27, 2012
My 12yo, adopted from dump baby home in Yekaterinburg, would be dead on streets with ban. Russia's backward, selfish http://t.co/JdOTU8ne
— rmayer (@rmayer2361) December 27, 2012
@ReformedBroker We adopted 2 kids (4,6) from Russia in 1996. They 'won the lottery' being adopted.. Most eventually end up on the streets.
— Ken (@packerfan48051) December 27, 2012
I have a daughter adopted from Russia. She came from a filthy orphanage in Russia to a better life here. http://t.co/FrU7yzlI
— ?? ??✝️Colleen Hunt✝️???? (@shirleycolleen) December 27, 2012
@eavesdropann Adopted my son from Russia in 2006. Sad 4 families in middle of Russian adoption process who will lose kids they already love.
— Pamela Version 2.020 ♜☄️ (@Timpanist) December 27, 2012
A woman who herself was adopted from Russia had this to say:
https://twitter.com/sidneychun/status/284294786339454976
Putin claims to be doing this out of concern for the children, but he is merely using them as pawns in his egomaniacal political games; it’s the children who will suffer the most. Shame on him.
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