Russia bans adoption from countries where gay marriage is legal

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree banning adoption of Russian children by citizens, whose countries legalized gay marriages, the Russian daily Kommersant wrote Feb. 13.

“Now not only gay couples but all citizens of countries where gay marriage is legal will be disallowed to adopt Russian children, according to the decree,” the media reported.

The decree does not mention countries by name, but gay marriage is currently legal in 15 countries, which include Spain, France and the UK. These countries were the largest recipients of Russian orphans, according to Russian legislation on international adoption.

This is a further step away from the adoption of Russian children by foreigners. The Dima Yakovlev bill – named after a Russian orphan who died from neglect in the U.S – was passed by the Russian Duma on Dec. 28, 2012.

The adoptive parents of the child were acquitted by a U.S. court. The case caused a huge scandal in Russia and led to the banning of U.S. adoptions of Russian children.