Russian parliament approves U.S. adoption ban
The Russian parliament has overwhelmingly approved a bill that
bans U.S. citizens from adopting Russian children, Radio Liberty
reported.
Approved on Friday, the bill was proposed in response to U.S.
legislation that imposes sanctions on Russians allegedly involved
in human rights abuses.
The Magnitsky Act was signed into law last week by U.S. President
Barack Obama.
It is named after Sergei Magnitsky, a whistle-blowing Russian
lawyer who was physically abused in prison and died in detention in
2009.
To become law, the adoption ban still must pass the upper house of
parliament, The Federation Council, before going to the president
for his signature.
Commenting on the Duma's initial approval of the ban, President
Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the Duma's decision was an
"emotional but adequate response" to the U.S. law.