Status of US adoptions in Russia unclear as returned adopted boy celebrates 8th birthday

Russia offers no clarity on US adoptions freeze

MOSCOW — Russian and U.S. officials have given birthday gifts to the 8-year-old boy who was returned to Russia by his adoptive American mother.

The flowers, a cake and toy car went to Artyom Savelyev, who was sent unaccompanied to Moscow last week with a note from his adoptive mother.

In it, she said the boy had psychological problems and was violent.

Russia — which was angered by the boy’s treatment — has sent conflicting signals about whether all adoptions to the U.S. are now suspended.

The Kremlin children’s rights ombudsman said Friday that potential parents may still prepare the paperwork for adoptions but that courts will not hear U.S. adoption cases.

But the U.S. Embassy in Moscow says it hasn’t received official notification of a freeze.