Russia Foreign Ministry: U.S. Adoptions Should Be Suspended

MOSCOW -- Russia's Foreign Ministry is asking the government to suspend adoptions of Russian children by U.S. nationals following an "incessant string of crimes" allegedly committed by American adoptive parents.

Russian authorities say that at least 17 Russian children have died in domestic violence incidents in their American families.

The Ministry said Saturday that the adoptions should resume only after Moscow and Washington sign an accord that allows Russian monitors to visit the homes of adopted children.

A Pennsylvanian couple was convicted in November of the involuntary manslaughter of their son adopted from Russia.

In 2010, a Tennessee woman sent her allegedly violent adopted son on a plane back to Russia – unaccompanied by an adult.

U.S. citizens have adopted nearly 50,000 Russian children since the early 1990s.

Comments

[Enough DS]

02:08 PM on 02/17/2012

They are ones to cry injustice...how about all we read about Russian mothers abducting their children after they lose custody in other countries and escaping to Russia to hide.
Four kids were stolen away in Italy
http://bringflorentinekidshome.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/international-parental-child-abduction/

[RoughCollie]

05:19 PM on 02/15/2012

Adoptive parents are warned from the get go about the risks of nature vs nurture but most of us have this unwavering belief that love, good food and a solid bank account will tip the scales toward nurture.

You usually don't see fetal alcohol syndrome in adopted children (except for parents willing to take on special needs children) because good agencies screen the babies and children for health/psychological issues before being matching these children with prospective parents.

I felt that that with this type of screening in place, my risks for adopting an emotionally disabled child weren't that much different than a woman having her own. Check out the latest statistics on autism, there's no return to sender/money back guarantee with natural born children either.

BTW, Madonna is in a world of her own, the rest of us don't adopt to "save a life", we adopt because we truly and deeply want a child to share our life with. If local agencies don't make it easy for Americans to adopt Americans, there are plenty of other countries who will since statistics show that most American adoptive parents will jump over hoops and walk through fire to make sure our adopted children grow up in solid, loving homes, go to college and live productive, happy lives.

[AcaciaJules]

10:46 AM on 02/16/2012

Wrong. This kind of thing is QUITE dependent on where and when people adopted.

[RoughCollie]

05:40 PM on 02/16/2012

That's it? No explanation? Yeah right.

[C Vento]

11:26 AM on 02/13/2012

Let me put things in simple terms for some of you that are having a hard time understanding. First, why does it matter where the orphaned child lives that is given a home through adoption? Seems to me any orphaned child being placed with a good family is a good thing. Secondly, has anyone ever looked at the amount of time a child can stay in the system in the US because parental rights take such priority. We adopted our eldest son from Russia. His mother's parental rights were terminated within a month of her abadoning him at birth. How long do you think that would take in the US? Lastly, we went into a Russian adoption aware of all of the risks associated. This is true for most Americans who actually do their homework before adopting. If there is anyone out there who is looking for guarantees when it comes to raising any child then you may want to choose a different path in life. Oh and BTW our son from Russia is a very happy, healthy, kind, and well adjusted 13-year-old American who seems to quiet happy with his family (and that even includes his 3 younger siblings who were also adopted through international agencies). It may help some of you to open your minds a bit. You never know just where it might take you!

[kirovfallenangel]

08:54 AM on 02/13/2012

I am a Russian adoptee and I am now completly mortified that so many of you wouldnt want to help kids who are in need! I was damn lucky to get adopted by a loving family. I was so lucky my birthmom came back to sign adoption papers. I was lucky to grow up with the family I had. Though to read all the comments on here about not adopting kids in Russia make me ashamed to be an american! I love america but I love knowing that somewhere out there are people who actually give a crap about us instead of saying we are wild children. I am so grateful and thankful I was adopted..though the people who say we shouldnt adopt in Russia you dont deserve kids then because all your saying is to condemn those children who want and need loving homes. Im not saying american kids should be condemned I am saying DONT THROW OUT KIDS WHO NEED HOMES BECAUSE YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE THAT WAY!

[C Vento]

11:52 AM on 02/13/2012

I wouldn't worry to much about the ignorant comments from some of the people here. I think some people are just tools and sit around much of the day seeing what they can think of to post to rile people up. Don't let them get the best of you. There are many of us out here that think adoption is a blessing and the world is a much better place because of it. In regards to people talking about buying babies, apparently they think that social workers, translators, agency workers. etc. should work for free and are not entitled to any pay for their work. I wonder if these posters would like to work for free at their job. Probably not. My husband and I are not wealthy in any way and still managed to find the funds we needed to to adopt our four beautiful children. We feel so blessed every day to have them in our lives and would do it all over again in a heartbeat as I am sure your parents would.

[camandkel02]

07:01 AM on 02/13/2012

Maybe more children will be adopted in the US now. 50,000 adoptions and two incidents mentioned .I think that is a pretty good record.....

[Gerald OHare]

02:13 AM on 02/13/2012

People want to adopt WHITE babies and that is why they buy Russian. Basically a Russian adoption is simply paying the money and picking up the baby. Russian society is a mess and these children are mistreated and difficult. So then these parents have this wild child on their hands and things go very wrong. I think we should not allow any adoption out side of the United States until such time as there are no foster children or orphaned children here in the US. We don't need to outsource children now do we.

[kirovfallenangel]

08:49 AM on 02/13/2012

"Buy" I think what you said is just wrong you dont buy kids! I'm and adoptee from Russia and you dont BUY US! yes, the orphanages are in terrible condition but we turn out to be good kids! How dare you say we are wild! We are not! HOW THE HECK WOULD YOU FREAKING FEEL IF YOUR PARENT DIDNT WANT YOU HUH? Its not so easy growing up knowing your parent couldnt take care of you or didnt want you but to say something like this shows me just how cruel real people can be!

[Jimsoutside]

09:42 AM on 02/13/2012

Ease up there. The only ones who matter when it comes to any wildness there might be is you and your adoptive parents, and the relationship you have with them is up to you and them. That doesn't mean that some kids aren't wild...it's a well documented fact. But it isn't necessarily exclusive to Russian kids, it's a product of their environment.
And kids are bought and sold in the world every day. It's no reflection on you, but it is a fact; stating ot doesn't make someone cruel.

[Gerald OHare]

10:15 AM on 02/13/2012

These kids are clearly disturbed and clearly "sold" under the cover of adoption. It is Russia's way of getting rid of their problem kids. I wish you well but you should see a psychologist about these issues.

[C Vento]

11:41 AM on 02/13/2012

I'm curious. Have you adopted any children? If you have then good for you. I think it is interesting how many people on this site have such grand ideas about what children deserve a home, where exactly they should come from, and how perfect they need to be when they arrive in their new homes and am just curious as to the stats on how many of them have adopted or fostered one of these American children in such need of help. Just wondering????

[gwbsucs1]

01:06 AM on 02/13/2012

there are plenty of orphans in America that need lovin homes

[ursasr]

10:25 PM on 02/12/2012

quick answer. stop adopting russian kids. PER THEIR REQUEST.

[anton123]

12:25 AM on 02/13/2012

Per who's request? Russian kids? I don't think they reqested it. ;-)

[rosasturtles1]

09:50 PM on 02/12/2012

why go esle where when we have so many here who need our love...

[Jimsoutside]

08:30 AM on 02/13/2012

You sound like a wonderful parent; how many American orphans have you adopted?

[rosasturtles1]

04:25 PM on 02/13/2012

four children and one isalready a parent...all you have to do is look...they are there....

[snwlprd]

07:57 PM on 02/12/2012

The situation for all of the youth of the world shall be an extreemely formidable challenge from my perspective. I consider my expectations and outlook when I was young. So much has changed over time, and sadly, most, not for the better. Time and experience have a way of tempering the idealism of youth. So............
"Oh to live on Sugar Mountain, with the barkers and the colored baloons.
You can't be twenty on Sugar Mountain, though you're thinking that you're leaving there too soon, you're leaving there too soon." - - Neil Young

[Devlyn13]

06:42 PM on 02/12/2012

I am glad why adopt from a different country when there are plenty of children right here in america that need homes

[stalb427]

07:49 PM on 02/12/2012

+1

If we arent gonna take care of the issues in our own backyard then who is.

[anton123]

08:23 PM on 02/12/2012

Did you try to adopt a kid in US?

[anton123]

08:22 PM on 02/12/2012

Do you have kids? Have you ever considered adoption?

[offred]

05:57 PM on 02/12/2012

Children who spend their early years in overcrowded orphanages run by overwhelmed and/or abusive staff sometimes develop an attachment disorder. Those children can be difficult to raise, especially if the adoptive parents weren't informed of the conditions the child lived in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_disorder

"In the clinical sense, a disorder is a condition requiring treatment as opposed to risk factors for subsequent disorders.[9] There is a lack of consensus about the precise meaning of the term 'attachment disorder' although there is general agreement that such disorders only arise following early adverse caregiving experiences. Reactive attachment disorder indicates the absence of either or both the main aspects of proximity seeking to an identified attachment figure. This can occur either in institutions, or with repeated changes of caregiver, or from extremely neglectful primary caregivers who show persistent disregard for the child's basic attachment needs after the age of 6 months. Current official classifications of RAD under DSM-IV-TR and ICD-10 are largely based on this understanding of the nature of attachment."

This doesn't excuse any mistreatment by the adoptive parents, but it may shed light on why some problems may develop.

[Enough DS]

03:46 PM on 02/17/2012

It is a terrible thing that Russia cares so little about it's children. They also allow Russian mothers to abduct children born in other countries and let them hide in Russia
http://bringflorentinekidshome.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/international-parental-child-abduction/

[sunnynight]

02:50 PM on 02/12/2012

It's like playing russian roulette.
The whole idea of adoption abandoned children is very problematic.
Abandoned children are very troubled and adopting parents, which are in most cases childless, are no less troubled.
It is much better to leave these children under the care of professionals than to give them to ,in many cases, the troubled people.

[TerriblyGreen]

03:26 PM on 02/12/2012

did you NOT just read what I posted below?! From where, exactly, do you get your information? I have my guess, but it would not be considered good manners to post it here.

My husband and I adopted our second child after having one biologically. We both have PhD's, attend church (my husband even sings in the church choir), I coach the girls' soccer teams, my husband just got back from taking the girls on their weekly trip to the local public library. I am a women's health advocate, he works for a Fortune 100 company, we have a loving, stable marriage. Our daughter is well attached to both of us, happy as a clam, no learning disabilities, no behavioral problems (au contraire - she is the sweetest, most socially skilled kid I've ever known)....and we are not the exception.

I'm done defending adoptive parents and their children on this thread. It breaks my heart to know my child will be on the receiving end of these beliefs and opinions. But let me say this: God have mercy on anyone who blurts out this garbage within my reach, because as a mother, I can assure you i will not.

[piul05]

03:35 PM on 02/12/2012

Nonsense; so is having biological children - they don't come fitting into a perfect recipe, you know?.

And to suggest that these children would be better off forever institutionalized, deprived of personal love and care...well, that's just plain atrocious.

The problem is really attitudes such as yours, "adoption is fine BUT..."; people who are not prepared to see their adopted children as their flesh and bone are unsuitable candidates. End of.

I once heard this acquaintance of mine being asked how she handled the issue of adoption with her (adopted) son, as he could tell, after a certain age, that he didn't look anything like mom and dad. Her answer was:

"Some people can't choose the children they have; they grow in their belly and that's that. But you, among all the children I saw, was the one I immediately felt in love with".

It's the most perfect answer I have ever heard.

[lynniemiller]

08:45 PM on 02/12/2012

Love it

Lovely story.

Best wishes!

[TerriblyGreen]

02:16 PM on 02/12/2012

As the parent of an internationally adopted child, I'm outraged at the judgment here. Have you ever considered:

1) People adopted internationally are likely reading this. What do you suppose it's like to see comments about being "purchased" by parents looking for walking Prada handbags, who couldn't be bothered to adopt more "worthy" American children? We are talking about children, not hypothetical constructs.

2) You cannot know what motivates anyone to adopt. We chose to adopt after having one biological child; Brangelina had nothing to do with it. People choosing to have children biologically don't all have the same reason for doing so, so why assume we do?

3) Unless you're adopting illegally, all prospective parents go through intensive screening before they can adopt internationally. Day-long workshops, pre- & two post-adoption visits by a social worker, letters from psychotherapists, parents and friends, FBI background checks - we had to go through all of this to be approved. What screening process did you go through to have your biological children?

4) Children without parents are children without parents, regardless of country. Sure, it would be ideal if they could be placed within their country. But many cannot. So what would you have happen to these little ones?

I'm saddened by what is happening in Russia, and realize international adoption can be a dismally shady business. I hope a solution is found. In the meantime, have compassion for these kids; they are the real victims.

[piul05]

02:55 PM on 02/12/2012

Excellent post.

[RoughCollie]

06:28 PM on 02/12/2012

Thank you for posting! This morning I was beyond appalled by the narrow-minded, ill-informed opinions written by people who have never adopted so I wrote a variety of posts addressing this appalling attitude. Glad to see another experienced international adoptive parent trying to knock the lid off this amazing kettle of ignorance. F&F (if it's working today)

[landskroon]

01:52 PM on 02/12/2012

I think a lot of acts are allowed to save children from Russia and its ruling class and conditions of life

[KriTiKiT]

02:26 PM on 02/12/2012

what makes you entitled to the ward of a foreign state?  they are kids not a pipeline right of way.

[landskroon]

04:03 PM on 02/12/2012

State ? Go to St Petersburg and try to find some youth that is not adicted to drugs.
No no, their are children of the nomenclatura, I know, they have a life