By: CHannel 9 Eyewitness News
news@kcautv.com
MOSCOW (AP) _ President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill banning Americans from adopting Russian children.
The bill is part of the country's increasingly confrontational stance with the West and has angered some Russians who argue it victimizes children to make a political point. UNICEF estimates that there are about 740,000 children not in parental custody in Russia,.
The law also blocks dozens of Russian children now in the process of being adopted by American families from leaving the country. The U.S. is the biggest destination for adopted Russian children. More than 60,000 of them have been taken in by Americans over the past two decades.
It is retaliation for an American law that calls for sanctions against Russian officials deemed human rights violators.
By: Shereen Mohammad
Smohammad@kcautv.com
Patrick and Jan griffin are two-month's into a long process of adopting a child from Russia. But recent news from Russia's Parliament is not the kind they would like to hear.
The upper chamber of Russia's Parliament has voted unanimously in favor of a new bill that would ban United States citizens from adopting Russian children.
"It's a heartbreaking process because we've already preparing our home not remodeling or buying furniture or anything but just preparing the emotional state of our home of ourselves and children for the change that is going to occur," said Patrick.
Jan grew up in Sioux City but now lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three-kids. Her brother Doug Burg, and his wife Lisa live in Orange City and they have already adopted a child from Russia. It took them two-years to finally get him over here, but they say he was well worth the wait.
"You have to understand that you're going to be challenged, there's going to be tough days, a lot of work and you know, in the end it's going to be really fantastic," said Doug.
For now, all the Griffins can do is patiently wait and see.
"You hope that it is not a door shut but that it is simply an obstacle, but we do not know..it's the fear of the unknown," said Patrick Griffin.
Now the Russian proposal all comes down to President Vladimir Putin. He must now decide whether to sign the measure or turn it down.
The bill is all part of a larger measure by angry Russian lawmakers. They are retaliating against a new U.S. law that calls for sanctions against Russians deemed to be human rights violators.
