Official says Russia, US agree on a new adoption deal, hope to sign it in 2 months

Russia, US reach accord on adoption deal

MOSCOW — Russia and the United States have reached a new bilateral accord on adoptions and expect to sign it within two months, a senior Russian official said Wednesday.

Russia had demanded such an accord after an 7-year-old Russian boy was sent back to Moscow alone last month by his adoptive American mother, creating an uproar. American adoption officials were also horrified at the drastic action taken by the mother and angry about its possible repercussions.

Russian officials say they want more control over U.S. adoptions of Russian children and the living conditions those children face in the United States.

“We have reached agreement on all principal issues and have seen willingness to sign such an agreement,” children’s rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov told reporters after U.S. and Russian officials met to discuss the pact.

Artyom Savelyev’s return to Russia caused some officials to demand a freeze on foreign adoptions. Russia’s parliament, however, defeated a motion Friday to suspend adoptions to the United States.

Astakhov confirmed Wednesday that adoptions to the U.S. have not been “legally suspended” but said they are “effectively suspended” as Russian courts will not rule on adoptions cases as long as there is uncertainly about the children’s safety in that country.

Some 1,800 Russian children were adopted in the United States last year, according to Russian officials.

Some 3,000 U.S. families are estimated to be in various stages of adopting children now from Russia.