Russian senators call for return of all Russian children adopted by U.S. families

(Interfax – February 20, 2013)

The Federation Council’s meeting on Wednesday began with the issue of the death in the U.S. of Maxim Kuzmin, 3, who was adopted by U.S. citizens.

Senators did not hide their outrage with what has occurred, and each of them tried to communicate his position on the matter.

Nikolai Kondratenko, former governor of the Krasnodar Territory, called the adoption of Russian children by foreigners “a shame of the nation.”

“We should not judge the Americans – it was out mistake and we should demand that America return all our children. If we need to, we will sell some owners’ yachts, but we will raise our children, and this step will belittle them [the Americans],” Kondratenko said.

Andrei Borisov, a representative of the Pskov region, said Maxim Kuzmin had a brother called Kirill.

“We, the people of Pskov, are now concerned about the fate of Kirill and over a dozen of families are ready to adopt him. The Federation Council should promote this boy\’s return to Russia,\” Borisov said.

The discussion also addressed the creation of a special commission on interaction with the U.AS. at the level of the parliament on issues relating to the adoption and fate of Russian children. Some meeting participants said the fate of 2,000 children adopted from Russia remains unknown, adding that this situation is unacceptable.