MOSCOW — Russia and the United States are moving closer to signing a new accord on adoptions, officials from both countries said Wednesday.
But how close is unclear. A Russian official said agreement has been reached on “all principal issues” and a deal should be signed within two months. The U.S. State Department spokesman, however, said that although the two countries have reached a “broad understanding,” many details still need to be worked out and the deal “is not done.”
Russia had demanded such an accord after a 7-year-old Russian boy was sent back to Moscow last month — alone on a one-way flight — by his adoptive American mother in Tennessee, creating an uproar in Russia. American adoption officials also were horrified at the drastic action taken by the mother and angry about its possible repercussions.
Russian officials say they want more control over U.S. adoptions of Russian children and the living conditions those children face in the United States.
“We have reached agreement on all principal issues and have seen willingness to sign such an agreement,” children’s rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov said after U.S. and Russian officials met to discuss the pact.
The draft agreement is expected to be approved on Friday, and the deal should be signed within the next two months, he said.
The return to Russia of Artyom Savelyev, who is now 8, caused some officials to demand a freeze on foreign adoptions. Russia’s parliament, however, defeated a motion Friday to suspend adoptions to the United States.
Astakhov said Wednesday that adoptions to the U.S. have not been “legally suspended” but said they are “effectively suspended” as courts will not rule on adoption cases as long as there is uncertainly about the children’s safety in that country.
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