MOSCOW, March 20 (UPI) -- A Russian government official said Wednesday it is possible to resolve child protection issues without placing a total ban on U.S. adoptions.
Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said legislation banning Americans from adopting Russian orphans does not have the support of a majority of Russian ministers, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported.
"A lot of people in the Cabinet, the majority, were against the legislation, at least in the form in was passed," Dvorkovich told a meeting with students.
He said it should be possible to resolve child protection issues without resorting to what he called "harsh" measures.
In announcing the Jan. 1 ban, Moscow cited cases of abuse and neglect by U.S. parents that resulted in the deaths of 20 Russian adoptees since the early 1990s.
Read More
- Probe death of adopted Russian toddler
- Russia bans more U.S. residents
- Advocate: 7 Russian adoptees to go to U.S.
- Russians protest ban on American adoptions
- Kids already adopted can leave Russia
- Russian teen begs for adoption
- Protest planned on Russian adoption ban
- Putin signs anti-U.S. adoption law
- Russian upper house passes adoption ban
- Lavrov says 'keep' U.S. adoption
