Putin supports ban on U.S. adoptions of Russian children

MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin has endorsed a proposal to prohibit Americans from adopting Russian children. He described the draft law as "appropriate". "The U.S. authorities, in cases where Russian children have allegedly been abused, do not allow access to our representatives, even as observers," Putin said during a live news conference. Putin supports ban on U.S. adoptions of Russian children The Russian law "is a response to the U.S. Magnitsky Act, which bars entry to the U.S. for Russians accused of human rights violations", the BBCreported . Putin said that he had yet to thoroughly study the law, but that he supported it in principle. "The answer of the Duma could be emotional, but I think the law is appropriate," the Russian president said. He then described the Magnitsky Act as "hostile": "They have replaced one anti-Soviet, anti-Russian law with another... That is very bad. This, of course, in itself poisons our relations." The Russian police detained 15 people who were in front of the Duma yesterday protesting against the draft law. The lower house of the Russian parliament on Wednesday endorsed the draft. It is expected that the upper house, and Putin could approve it and make it a law by the end of the year. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier that placing a ban American families wishing to adopt children from Russia would be "wrong", something that was also criticized by Russian Education Minister Dmitry Livanov. (Beta/AP, file) B92

Putin supports ban on U.S. adoptions of Russian children

The Russian law "is a response to the U.S. Magnitsky Act, which bars entry to the U.S. for Russians accused of human rights violations", the BBCreported .

Putin said that he had yet to thoroughly study the law, but that he supported it in principle.

"The answer of the Duma could be emotional, but I think the law is appropriate," the Russian president said.

He then described the Magnitsky Act as "hostile":

"They have replaced one anti-Soviet, anti-Russian law with another... That is very bad. This, of course, in itself poisons our relations."

The Russian police detained 15 people who were in front of the Duma yesterday protesting against the draft law.

The lower house of the Russian parliament on Wednesday endorsed the draft. It is expected that the upper house, and Putin could approve it and make it a law by the end of the year.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier that placing a ban American families wishing to adopt children from Russia would be "wrong", something that was also criticized by Russian Education Minister Dmitry Livanov.