For the sake of the children

The long-awaited agreement on the adoption of children between Russia and the United States, the absence of which has recently been constantly criticized by the Commissioner for Children's Rights Pavel Astakhov, has finally been signed. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed the document on July 13 in Washington.

According to the text of the agreement, potential adoptive parents will have to undergo mandatory psychological testing, and the adoption procedure can only be carried out through accredited agencies. The American side will be responsible for compliance with these conditions. In addition, until they reach adulthood, all children adopted by US citizens will retain Russian citizenship. On the other hand, adoptive parents will be provided with more detailed information about the health and psychological state of the child.

Russia has yet to ratify the treaty (the United States must not). Lavrov promised that this would happen in the near future. The adoption of Russian children by American citizens was suspended in April 2010 as a result of a series of scandals involving violations of the rights and deaths of children from Russia adopted by American citizens.

Earlier it was reported that at least 17 children died from abuse in American families.

Astakhov told Interfax that the signing of the agreement was preceded by seven rounds of negotiations.