Russian parliament may request ban on U.S. child adoptions

The proposal requests Vladimir Putin to freeze child adoptions and to speed up the conclusion of a Russian-U.S. intergovernmental agreement on the issue

The issue of international adoptions in Russia came back into focus recently when a 7-year-old boy was put on a plane alone back to Moscow with a note from his U.S. adoptive mother, who said he was "psychopathic."

The State Duma's committee on the issues of family, women and children said it did not support the request as "the head of the Russian government is not entitled to suspend adoptions of Russian children by foreign nationals."

Russia needs to amend its Family Code to freeze international adoptions. It can be done only through a special State Duma bill, or a presidential decree.

So far, Russian officials can only freeze licenses of foreign adoption agencies on its territory.

Key talks to discuss a draft agreement are planned in Moscow for May 12; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.