Russia suspends US adoptions

Russia has suspended adoptions by US citizens after a scandal involving a mother who shipped her seven-year-old adopted son unaccompanied back to Russia with a note saying she couldn't deal with his behaivoural problems.

Wikipedia

The Russian foreign ministry said Thursday the freeze on bilateral adoptions will remain until terms specifying responsibilities for US families could be carved out.

Artyom Justin Savelyev was sent back unaccompanied to Moscow by his US adoptive mother, setting off a firestorm and prompting Russian officials to suspend adoptions.

"A bilateral agreement would let us significantly minimise the risk of a repetition of cases like the terrible story of Artyom Justin," said Russian foreign ministry's child policy chief Alina Levitskaya.

No charges have been filed against Torry Hansen, of Tennessee, but Tennessee officials are looking into whether she committed child endangerment or conspiracy.

US officials are also looking into why school-aged Artyom was not registered with any school during the six months he was with Hansen.

Hansen claimed that Russian authorities lied to her about his mental state, but officials countered that all medical check ups had been made before he was adopted.