Russia Moves to Ban Adoptions from Countries Allowing Gender Change

Sponsored Ad

Russia's parliament has given initial approval to a law that would ban nationals from countries that permit gender change from adopting Russian children. The State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, overwhelmingly backed the measure in its first reading on Wednesday, with 397 votes in favor and one against.

The bill, aimed at upholding what lawmakers describe as Russia's “traditional values,” would prevent citizens of countries that allow gender change—either through medical intervention or on official documents—from adopting Russian children.

This move follows a broader crackdown on LGBTQ rights in Russia, where legislation passed last year prohibited individuals from legally or medically changing their gender. The new adoption law has already been conceptually approved by the government but will require two additional readings, upper house approval, and a signature from President Vladimir Putin to become law.

Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the Duma and a close ally of Putin, said the law is intended to protect Russian children from what he termed "dangerous conditions" in countries that allow gender reassignment.

Foreign adoption of Russian children has significantly declined since 2012, when Russia banned American adoptions. According to official reports, only six Russian children were adopted by foreign nationals in 2023.