Advertisement

Italians still eligible to adopt Russian children

ROME, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Couples in Italy may still adopt Russian children because their country does not recognize gay marriages, officials from both nations said.

Pavel Astakhov, the Russian government's children's rights minister, said Italy is one of a shrinking number of European nations still eligible to adopt Russian children.

Advertisement

France became the seventh Eurozone nation to legalize gay marriage. England will begin same-sex nuptials in 2014.

Italy, however, still bans the unions -- despite Rome's mayor coming out in favor of gay marriage recently, TheLocal.it reported Saturday. The country recently passed a major anti-homophobia law, though the measure stops short of granting the right to marry.

Russian lawmakers passed a bill backed by President Vladimir Putin, banning heterosexual couples living in countries where gay marriage is legal from adopting Russian children. The Russian government has banned U.S. couples from adopting Russian babies after a diplomatic rift on the issue.

Latest Headlines