White House concerned over Russian adoption banDecember 25, 2012 - 14:55 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The White House voiced concern Tuesday, Dec 25, over the Russian bill that would ban adoptions of Russian children by U.S. citizens, according to RIA Novosti. In its response to a petition calling for sanctions to be imposed on Russian lawmakers, the White House issued a statement saying that the U.S. “will continue to raise these concerns with the Russian government.” The petition asked for lawmakers to be punished under the Magnitsky Act, a newly enacted U.S. law that denies visas to Russian officials deemed by Washington to be complicit in human rights abuses, and freezes their American assets. “Children should have every opportunity to grow up in loving families; their fate should not be linked to unrelated political considerations,” the White House said in its response. It didn’t elaborate if the steps proposed in the petition are to be enforced. The petition, published on the White House website on Friday, had gathered 54,521 signatures by Tuesday. An additional petition for sanctions to be imposed on President Vladimir Putin, if he signs the bill, collected 12,174 signatures in two days. The ban on U.S. adoptions was introduced by Russian lawmakers as part of bill responding to the U.S. Magnitsky Act. It has been already passed in three readings by Russia’s lower house of parliament. It will be reviewed on Wednesday by the upper chamber, the Federation Council. If approved, it would either be vetoed or signed into law by President Vladimir Putin. The proposed adoption ban caused a flurry of discussion in blogs and the liberal media in Russia, with critics accusing the lawmakers of exploiting children for political gain. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. |