Russia gives Italy sole adoption rights over gay-union ban

(ANSA) – Moscow, November 29 – Italy will be the only country allowed to adopt children from Russia because it does not recognize gay marriage, a Kremlin official said Friday. “It turns out that Italy is currently the only country whose citizens are able to adopt Russian children because, first of all, this country refused to recognise same-sex marriage, which, for its part, does not require Russia to change the existing agreement, and, secondly, (the Italians) abide by the terms of this treaty. That is all,” Children Rights Commissioner Pavel Astakhov told Russia’s Interfax news agency. “It is not our fault. (Other countries) should work harder if you want international adoption to continue.

“Our priorities differ from yours. We generally prioritize the adoption of children inside the country”. The official specified that the policy does not amount to an outright ban on adoption in other countries.

Currently the United States is the only country banned from adopting Russian children. Italy’s left-wing SEL party lashed out at Italian Premier Enrico Letta, who wrapped up a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and ministers from both governments in Trieste Wednesday, where a number of accords were signed. “Putin continues to astound with his homophobic regurgitations, announcing that Russia will allow foreign adoptions only to Italy because it’s among the few European countries not to recognize gay couples,” said Cathy La Torre from the national directorate of SEL, who called on Letta to condemn Russia’s adoption decision. “If these are the results of the bilateral accords recently stipulated between Italy and Russia, there’s very little to be happy with”.