The Mother of God was asked to drive away King Herod

A picket against the “anti-orphan” law was held in Rostov, one of the participants was detained by the police, United Civil Front activist Boris Batu told PublicPost.

The picket, which attracted more police than participants (20 people), was organized by activists of Garry Kasparov’s United Civil Front (UCF). The picket took place near the Don Public Library, activists stood with posters containing photographs of children and slogans against the ban on the adoption of orphans by foreigners. “My friend, for example, had a poster: “Mother of God, drive away King Herod,” Batu told PublicPost. In addition, activists distributed a brochure by Boris Nemtsov and Leonid Martynyuk, “ The Life of a Galley Slave .”

“One of the picket participants, despite the fact that the action was coordinated with the authorities, was detained by the police. His name is Margos Tiratsuyan, he went to agitate the police, five cars arrived at the action, Margos went to tell them about the law of scoundrels, about the fact that what’s going on in the country. He was detained, now we’re standing at the police station, waiting to see what they’ll charge him with,” said Boris Batu.

UCF activists, according to Batu, told passers-by and Rostovites interested in the action about the law adopted by the State Duma and what it threatens orphans with, and that 13 deputies representing the Rostov region voted for it. “If we were allowed to hold a rally in the center... Otherwise, this is not a very convenient place, but still people are interested, they support. There are more of those who support our position,” said the UCF activist.

The State Duma adopted a law against orphans on December 21. Vladimir Putin signed it on December 28. The law prohibits US citizens from adopting Russian children. Also, adoption will be prohibited for those countries that decide to join the United States and adopt legislation similar to the Magnitsky Act.