The upper chamber of Russia‘s parliament has voted unanimously in favour of a measure banning Americans from adopting Russian children. It now goes to the president, Vladimir Putin, to sign or turn down.
The bill is one part of a larger measure by MPs retaliating against a recently signed US law that calls for sanctions against Russians deemed to be human rights violators.
Some senior government officials, including the foreign minister, have spoken against the bill, arguing that it would be in violation of Russia’s constitution and international obligations.
Several people protesting against the bill were detained outside the Federation Council on Wednesday morning.
Critics of the bill say it victimises orphans by depriving them of an opportunity to escape often dismal Russian orphanages. There are about 740,000 children without parental custody in Russia.