Russian government split on adoption ban

• Tweet

MOSCOW, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Russian lawmakers are split on legislation that would ban American parents from adopting Russian children, a presidential spokesman said Tuesday.

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said some lawmakers have criticized the legislation but others are in favor of it, RIA Novosti reported.

Peskov's comments came after the press leaked a memo by Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets criticizing the bill.

The Kremlin will "take into account" Golodets' arguments, Peskov said in an interview with Kommersant FM radio, but he said the deputy prime minister did not speak for the entire cabinet.

The bill has been approved by the State Duma and two upper house committees. Putin has expressed support for the bill, but has yet to say whether he will sign it.