A bill was introduced in the “State Duma” of Russia today, which prohibits citizens of “enemy countries” from adopting Russiansreported Reuters.
The proposal, made by Russian lawmakers and published on the State Duma website, includes expanding the scope of a 2012 law that prohibits Americans from adopting Russian children, making it applicable to citizens of all countries who do “hostile” actions against Russia.
In 2012, Moscow banned the adoption of Russian children by American citizens in response to Washington’s sanctions against high-ranking Russian officials believed to be linked to the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in Russian custody.
After the adoption of the law, the number of adoptions saw a serious decline. According to the TASS news agency, 240 Russian children were adopted by foreigners in 2019, compared to 2,604 in 2012, according to AFP.
Russia’s list of enemy states has expanded after many countries imposed sanctions on the Federation over its invasion of Ukraine in February. Currently, this list includes the United States, Great Britain, all EU countries, South Korea, New Zealand, Japan, Norway and Taiwan, specifies France Presse, BTA reported.
To enter into force, the bill must be approved in three readings in the lower house of parliament. It will then be voted on in the Federation Council, the upper house, before being approved by President Vladimir Putin. The last two stages are in most cases a simple formality, notes AFP.
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