Russia is often in a state of flux, but a recent decision by President Vladimir Putin to ban Americans from adopting Russian children demonstrates the changeable situation for Russian orphans. What many Russians are calling a law of King Herod is officially called the Dima Yakovlev bill, passed by the Russian Duma (similar to English Parliament or American Senate) in December 2012. In fact, this bill was signed on the day the Orthodox Church commemorates the Massacre of the Innocent when King Herod murdered the infants in Bethlehem. The actual name comes from a 2008 incident when an adopted Russian boy named Dima died from heat stroke in his father’s car. The father accidentally left him locked inside for nine hours. This shocking event, among a few others, enacted by American adoptive parents is supposedly why a ban on Americans adopting Russian children has passed. Although these incidents are ghastly, they are few compared to the thousands of orphans adopted by American families each year living in safe and loving homes. The bill is also nicknamed the “anti-Magnitsky law,” and is considered the Russian government’s retaliation against a law passed in 2010 by President Obama. The Magnitsky law prevents human rights violators in Russia from holding assets in the United States. Sergei L. Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer, accused the Russian government of tax fraud. He was then arrested for tax fraud himself and died in prison without medical attention at the age of 37. Putin clearly enacted the adoption ban as retribution towards these accusations of human rights violations against his political allies. For more information,  click here.

This tragic ban prevents thousands of children from finding a loving home. Over 100,000 Russians have signed a petition opposing their government’s actions. Yet, the ban remains and those children most at risk are the ones with disabilities ranging from cerebral palsy to Down syndrome and diseases from Tuberculosis to HIV. Many Russians are upset because they cannot afford to adopt Russian children, so it has been relief that Americans have been willing. Now, Russians believe these children are being left without hope and they can do nothing to help them. As of January 2013, there were more than 650,000 registered orphans (this does not include street children or children who do not have official paperwork). The United States adopts more Russian orphans than any other country. The hundred thousand Russians against this ban understand their country cannot provide for the massive population of uncared for and unloved children. Of late, there has not been much discussion or movement around this ban in the American news. Hopefully, as Russian and U.S. citizens alike protest against this situation, changes will be made in Moscow. Right now many families remain heartbroken, as they cannot fulfill an adoption that was in process when this ban passed. Let us keep those families in our prayers and the thousands of children going to sleep each night without a family.

Written by Hilary Morris, Creative Writing Intern.