No Adoption Moratorium

February 15, 2012

Media sources have reported on a possible moratorium on Russian adoptions to the United States. The Russian government has not given the Department of State any official notice that adoptions to the United States have been suspended. We understand Russian courts and regional authorities are still processing adoptions by U.S. citizens. We continue to monitor the situation and will announce any changes affecting adoptions by American families.

The U.S. government is committed to improving safeguards for adopted children. For this reason, we signed a bilateral adoption agreement with Russia on July 13, 2011. We look forward to the Russian Parliament’s ratification of the agreement so that we may implement it as soon as possible.