MOSCOW, April 15 (UPI) -- Russia has suspended adoptions of children by U.S. families until rules governing the adoptions can be worked out with officials, authorities said Thursday.
The decision was announced after a Tennessee woman sent her 7-year-old adopted son back to Moscow alone, claiming the Russian orphanage misled her about the boy's psychological problems, CNN reported..
"Further adoptions of Russian children by the American citizens, which at present has been suspended, will only be possible in case such an agreement is reached," Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said.
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow said it didn't think the incident would create any ill effects in the long term.
"I would say to American families that are in the process of adoption, not to worry too much," said John Beyrle, U.S. ambassador to Russia. "We're working on this and we really don't think that this will have any long-term effect on the ability of American families to adopt here."
The boy carried a letter addressed to the Ministry of Education and signed by his adoptive mother, who also hired a Russian driver to deliver the child to the Education Ministry from the airport.
In her letter, which CNN said it was allowed to view, the woman said the child was violent and had severe psychopathic issues and behaviors.
"I was lied to and misled by the Russian Orphanage workers and director regarding his mental stability," the woman wrote. "After giving my best to this child, I am sorry to say that for the safety of my family, friends and myself, I no longer wish to parent this child."
