The numbers of Russian children being adopted by foreign nationals last year dropped significantly in St. Petersburg, the Rosbalt website reports.
In 2015, 71 children were adopted from orphanages by foreigners, according to St. Petersburg Ombudsman for Children's Rights Svetlana Agapitova.
By contrast, in 2016 only 17 children were adopted by foreigners.
Those children were adopted by parents from France, Italy and Israel, all countries which have bilateral agreements on adoption with Russia.
The number of Russian adoptions in St. Petersburg is also falling. In 2014, 213 children were adopted by Russian parents. In 2015, that number dropped to 166. By 2016, only 108 children were adopted by Russians.
Instance of foreign adoption may return to their former levels if Russian authorities decide to scrap a 2012 decree which bans adoption of Russian children by U.S. citizens.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
