Russia's Senate Approves Anti-Adoption Law

(Vatican Radio)-- In a move expected to create international tensions, the upper chamber of Russia's parliament has approved a measure banning Americans from adopting Russian children. Protesters outside Moscow's parliament building tried to prevent the anti-adoption law. They fear the legislation will deprive children of an opportunity to escape the often horrific conditions in local orphanages. But police soon detained several demonstrators.

NO DEBATE

And inside the parliament building, there seemed little debate, with the chair just explaining the procedure. Lawmakers unanimously adopted the law, making it impossible for Americans to adopt Russian children. It will be sent to President Vladimir Putin to sign if the Federation Council votes for it as expected. The bill is seen as retaliation to a U.S. law that calls for sanctions against Russians
deemed to be human rights violators.

MAGNITSKY ACT

Washington passed the Magnitsky Act, named after Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in a Moscow jail. He was investigating alleged widespread corruption within the Kremlin. President Putin has not yet committed to signing the anti-adoption bill, but has called it is a legitimate response to the new US law. Moscow's legislation has now added to concerns about the future of an estimated 740,000 orphans and abandoned children in Russia. Over 60,000 children have been adopted by Americans in the past two decades, although the annual number has declined.

Listen to the report by correspondent Stefan Bos: