Russian lawmakers vote for US adoption ban amid criticism

A fierce debate is raging in Russia as the country’s Lower House of Parliament readies a ban on US citizens adopting Russian children, Russia Today reports on Wednesday.

Russian lawmakers have approved the so-called ‘Dima Yakovlev’ bill in a second reading – despite the controversy surrounding the bill, only 17 MPs out of 417 voted against it, with 399 in favor. To become law, it must be approved in a third reading, passed by the Upper House and then signed by the president.

The bill was initiated by the ruling United Russia party. While it attempts to address some problems with adoption protocol, it is also said to be a response to the Magnitsky Act which was recently signed into law by President Obama. The act, named after lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in pre-trial detention in Moscow, bans certain Russian officials who were allegedly involved in the death from visiting the US and freezes their American-held assets.

If the Yakolev bill is signed into law, it will effectively prohibit any adoption of Russian orphans by US couples and stop the work of any organisations that act as intermediaries in the adoption process. Additional amendments suggest that a similar ban should be imposed on any other foreign country which supports the Magnitsky Act.