It was two years ago that Vladmir Putin signed the law banning adoption of Russian orphans by Americans. Believed to be politically charged rather than a law placed in effect for the protection of children, great sadness and shock suddenly struck American families who were in the midst of adoptions. When the law was signed all adoptions came to a halt, regardless of how close the children were to going home with their parents.
Many Americans believe the law came about in a type of retaliation after America banned Russian human rights violators from entering the United States. This American ban followed the suspicious death of a Russian lawyer (working for an American firm) who exposed a tax scandal involving Russian officials.
The adoption law currently in effect not only bans Americans from adopting Russian orphans, but it also affects Russians with dual citizenship. The amendment being discussed will lift the ban for Russians with dual citizenship as long as they permanently reside in Russia.
