The Political climate in Russia.
We pray we are still able to go on our trip scheduled at the end of this month. The atomosphere in Russia at this time is very bad for foreign adoptions. To make it brief, 7 years ago a couple adopted a little 6 year old boy and a sibling using an independent facilatator. Some of these indy facilatators are, how should I say this, corrupt. The little boy had alot of issues that concerned the parents but they were assured that he would 'come around' once in a loving home. Well that never happened as the boy had some very serious issues. The adoptive mother was arrested for murder of this young boy. She was sent to prision for 12 years for this crime.
This was all over the media on an hourly basis causing hyteria all over Russia, and rightfully so. The Russians now look at all Americans as murderers of their children and have reported in the last several weeks misconducts by parents of newly adopted children. The children are still Russian citizens even after court until they touch American soil.
One case being an American family with a little boy at a hotel restaurant in Moscow, Russia. They were arrested for abusing their newly adopted little boy. The adoptive mother put her hand over the little boys mouth at the table to quiet him down. The couple were sent home without the child. The US embassy in Moscow is looking into this matter.
A second case being an Italian couple on a flight from region to Moscow. They were arrested when they deplaned for the abuse of their newly adopted little boy. They stated he was afraid of flying and he keep running up and down the aisle screaming. The attendents told the parents the child had to be seated with his seat belt on. So the parents seated the little boy and put on his seat belt and scolded the boy in a stern voice that he had to sit and he had to wear the seat belt. Now remember these kids have never, for the most part, been out of the orphanage or in a restaurant or an airplane for that matter. Some of these kids are even sedated in the orphanage with phenobartitol to keep them calm and controllable. This is awhole new scary world for them.
The good news yesterday was the American couple were found by the Russian police to be innocent of any abuse and the mother returned to Russia to bring the child home. The Italian couple stayed in Moscow to fight their case with the Italian Embassy behind them.
There is a meeting this week in Moscow with the departments and ministries that handle children without parents. Some of the politicans that are against foriegn adoptions are trying to get a bilateral agreement passed. There are many organizations and groups fighting against this a blateral agreement. But this could potentially put a moratorium on Russian adoptions. Meaning the Russian programs would close until this all gets figured out either way.
We are told by our agency that if (and that there is no indication as yet that a moratorium is going to happen) but if you have a referral, met your referral and are waiting for court than we would be able to continue with the adoption till completed. It is very important we get to travel at this point to meet our referral and sign with the adoption center in Yaroslavl.
The Russian government is also trying to eradicate independent adoptions. Right now we are traveling independent because our agency is awaiting renewal of their accreditation. The ministries of course who do this are now at meetings all week and the agencies waiting for renewal are on hold till the meetings are over. So our agency has no idea when they will get the last signature they need to get the certification of accreditation. This issue has put their summer hosting program on the cancelled list. Meaning 38 children that were to come over for the summer program will now not be coming at all. I am sure these kids are disappointed too as are the families that were to host them.
This climate in whole has held up many many adoptions this year. I hear the maternity hospitals and the orphanages are all over capacity with babies and children. Our referral is 18 months old, this is considered old in the adopting world. Most kids over 2 are not be considered adoptable. Now because of the delays there are many many children reaching this age. I certainly hope that issues get resolved and the programs start to move again. There are many families waiting for referrals and many many more children waiting for families.
This was all over the media on an hourly basis causing hyteria all over Russia, and rightfully so. The Russians now look at all Americans as murderers of their children and have reported in the last several weeks misconducts by parents of newly adopted children. The children are still Russian citizens even after court until they touch American soil.
One case being an American family with a little boy at a hotel restaurant in Moscow, Russia. They were arrested for abusing their newly adopted little boy. The adoptive mother put her hand over the little boys mouth at the table to quiet him down. The couple were sent home without the child. The US embassy in Moscow is looking into this matter.
A second case being an Italian couple on a flight from region to Moscow. They were arrested when they deplaned for the abuse of their newly adopted little boy. They stated he was afraid of flying and he keep running up and down the aisle screaming. The attendents told the parents the child had to be seated with his seat belt on. So the parents seated the little boy and put on his seat belt and scolded the boy in a stern voice that he had to sit and he had to wear the seat belt. Now remember these kids have never, for the most part, been out of the orphanage or in a restaurant or an airplane for that matter. Some of these kids are even sedated in the orphanage with phenobartitol to keep them calm and controllable. This is awhole new scary world for them.
The good news yesterday was the American couple were found by the Russian police to be innocent of any abuse and the mother returned to Russia to bring the child home. The Italian couple stayed in Moscow to fight their case with the Italian Embassy behind them.
There is a meeting this week in Moscow with the departments and ministries that handle children without parents. Some of the politicans that are against foriegn adoptions are trying to get a bilateral agreement passed. There are many organizations and groups fighting against this a blateral agreement. But this could potentially put a moratorium on Russian adoptions. Meaning the Russian programs would close until this all gets figured out either way.
We are told by our agency that if (and that there is no indication as yet that a moratorium is going to happen) but if you have a referral, met your referral and are waiting for court than we would be able to continue with the adoption till completed. It is very important we get to travel at this point to meet our referral and sign with the adoption center in Yaroslavl.
The Russian government is also trying to eradicate independent adoptions. Right now we are traveling independent because our agency is awaiting renewal of their accreditation. The ministries of course who do this are now at meetings all week and the agencies waiting for renewal are on hold till the meetings are over. So our agency has no idea when they will get the last signature they need to get the certification of accreditation. This issue has put their summer hosting program on the cancelled list. Meaning 38 children that were to come over for the summer program will now not be coming at all. I am sure these kids are disappointed too as are the families that were to host them.
This climate in whole has held up many many adoptions this year. I hear the maternity hospitals and the orphanages are all over capacity with babies and children. Our referral is 18 months old, this is considered old in the adopting world. Most kids over 2 are not be considered adoptable. Now because of the delays there are many many children reaching this age. I certainly hope that issues get resolved and the programs start to move again. There are many families waiting for referrals and many many more children waiting for families.
posted by Scott and Kim Mench at 9:33 AM
<< Home