Ban on adoption of Russian children by Americans would be a mistake - minister
MOSCOW. Dec 18 (Interfax) - The Russian minister for relations with the Open Government, Mikhail Abyzov, has advised against tying Russia's law retaliating against the U.S. Magnitsky Act to adoptions of children.
"It would be a great mistake to bar citizens of any foreign states, including the U.S., from adopting [Russian] children, especially children with physical disabilities," Abyzov told Interfax on Tuesday.
The State Duma Constitutional Legislation Committee recommended on Monday that the chamber debate Russia's response to the U.S. Magnitsky Act in the second reading on December 19.
The committee also supported amendments that ban all adoptions of Russian children by U.S. families.
"So far it is the committee's personal view. I hope that it will not be approved," Abyzov said.
Russian Education and Science Minister Dmitry Livanov said earlier he feared that a possible ban on adoptions of Russian children by U.S. families could harm orphans whom Russian citizens are unwilling to adopt.
"The quid pro quo logic is not right because it could hurt our children whom no one wants to adopt in Russia," Livanov said on his Twitter page on Monday.