On December 21, 2012, Russian Duma passed Federal Law 186614-6 that prohibits adoption of orphaned Russian children in the USA, as well as deprives Russian human rights advocates of the ability to work with American colleagues.
This law was prepared as a response to Magnitsky Act, and was preceded by a campaign of slander against orphan rehabilitation programs and human rights advocacy in the world.
We urge our political leaders, at minimum, to speak up against this primarily anti-humane act and make clear that acts of ideological revenge are unfitting for the international political arena.
We also ask that Magnitsky Act be extended to supporters of this law in Russian Duma.
Response to Petition
Concerns About Russian Legislation That Would Affect Adoptions and Civil Society
By National Security Staff
The United States shares your concerns regarding the bill passed by the Russian Duma that, if it were to become law, would ban inter-country adoptions between the United States and Russia and would restrict the ability of Russian civil society organizations to work with American partners. We will continue to raise these concerns with Russian government.
Children should have every opportunity to grow up in loving families; their fate should not be linked to unrelated political considerations. The United States and Russia concluded a bilateral agreement on inter-country adoptions, which entered into force on November 1, 2012. The Agreement provides additional safeguards to better protect the welfare and interests of children and all parties involved in inter-country adoptions.
The United States also remains committed to supporting the development of civil society and the democratic process around the world, including in Russia. We deeply regret recent efforts to restrict civil society activity in Russia, and to single out organizations that have U.S. partners for special restrictions. In today’s interconnected world, non-governmental organizations should be free to cooperate internationally with partners of their choice.
The United States remains concerned over the lack of accountability for those implicated in the tragic death in 2009 of Sergey Magnitskiy. The United States will continue to call for full accountability for those responsible for Magnitskiy’s unjust imprisonment and wrongful death, including through implementation of the Sergey Magnitskiy Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012.
U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul’s statement on the bill passed by the Russian Duma can be found here and the Department of State’s Acting Deputy Spokesperson’s statement can be found here.
Tell us what you think about this response and We the People.