There are about 118,000 orphans in Russian state care, and the number of domestic adoptions fell from 2011 to 2012, senior government officials told State Duma deputies on Friday.
The updated figures could bring clarity to a national debate about how to reduce the number of children in state institutions and encourage domestic adoption, prompted by the government's controversial decision to ban U.S. adoptions earlier this year.
The number of domestic adoptions fell from 7,400 in 2011 to 6,600 in 2012, Prosecutor General said during the special session on adoptions issues, RIA-Novosti reported.
Another 54,500 were taken in by foster families, said , deputy prime minister in charge of social policy. About 118,000 orphans currently live in state-run facilities, she said.
(MT)
