Putin to ban US adoptions of Russian children

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It's Russian president Vladimir Putin accused of playing politics with the lives of orphans after saying that he's gonna sign a controversial ban.

On adoptions by any American.

Well the State Department just minutes ago saying the idea of risky new cases of Russian children -- all of whom.

Would find their adoptions frozen is both misguided and unfair to the kids involved.

Foreign adoptions have already been suspended.

Following the case of the American woman Torre Hanson remember her she adopted young Russian boy and later sent back on one way flight to Moscow with a note.

Pinned on his shirt the seven year old was placed in a plane along that note from a Hanson saying the boy was violent.

And her family fear for their safety.

Russia's foreign minister at the time called boy's return the last straw after a string of foreign adoption failures.

Which children some of them were killed however -- the Ference joining me now.

Attorneys David -- and Janet Johnson.

Could see both David let's start with the you've worked in -- juvenile justice system for the better part of the decade or two.

So what's your take on this.

-- great you know since 199945000.

Russian kids.

Have been adopted by American -- the vast majority of -- great homes loving homes.

There have been a few cases of abuse and neglect no question about it.

But Greg this set by Putin is nothing short of an active child abuse it's reprehensible.

These kids do not -- they're not but enough by adoptive homes in Russia to take care of these kids.

That's why so many of American homes have stepped in to to fill that void now -- about 46 adoptions in mid stream.

Bonding is already taken place between adoptive parents and the kids.

-- for that to be destroy Greg I would hope there is an international tribunal perhaps The Hague.

There will intervene in this in this disastrous decision by prudent.

I it's it's it hurts the kids it's nothing less than child who's -- needs to be reversed -- what do you think.

I think couldn't -- given himself an out because he's basically been on record saying he has a one year to change the agreement that the US and Russia already have in place for these adoptions.

So I think he's gonna let these 46 go through so those children aren't left midstream.

And then going forward he's basically just reacting to an unrelated laws saying that any war criminal from Russia can't own property in the US.

I think they're gonna find a way -- smooth this over because it's a PR disaster forbidden yeah I would.

Think so and especially David since Russia has a real -- problem on its hands.

Yeah massive born great and you know what we covered this with Megan -- can be yours going Kelly's court and the woman who did send that child back.

I miss Hanson.

Did it do exactly what he said -- -- -- note pinned to his chest saying he's a psychotic kids.

A violent kid she can no longer taken and that was it for a horrendous act of child abuse and of itself.

But since then a court has ordered her to pay a 150000 dollars in damages and support that young boy until he's eighteen.

So there has been a remedy to that active child abuse -- up what needs to acknowledge that and move on with this because you're only hurting the kids.

And I suspect that it's possible -- right and immediately he will reverse himself in the next year.

But don't play politics with kids' lives Janet explain the quid pro quo here a little bit more in the and the politics that's involved.

-- and with good news you know you never know at the mindset is I don't think that any of us can get inside his brain but.

He's reacting to a law that was recently signed by the president saying that if somebody is a convicted war criminal in a rush.

They can't own property they have certain rights that they cannot exercise in the United States.

He apparently was miffed about that and in response is taking these children hostage basically and saying.

OK then you can't adopt because Americans are utilizing Russian orphanages as ways to adopt children that they can't get United States.

He -- -- I think was insulted and made a statement saying.

The standard of living in the US shouldn't be your reason to let them -- why don't we all -- moved to the United States if we're agreeing that it's better there I don't think he wants to say that yeah.

Smacks of Cold War -- does its retaliation David is now.

-- does that mean there's no way you can get around that he needs with the lives of the kids first and use them as ponds like Janet said.

Is reprehensible but the bottom line is -- I have seen adoptions fall far I've represented kids have been adoptive homes.

And say they do a background check after a year and it turns out one of -- a convicted felon and the devastation.

That happens to these kids when they -- -- of an adoptive placement.

Is irreparable.

And so let's not let these 46 of options fall apart let him go through and then patch up whatever it takes and this quick.

Pro quid pro quo nonsense and get this going to there's been a tremendous adoptive were relationship.

For the last thirteen years David -- Janet Johnson good to see both thank you.

-- -- -- --

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Putin to ban US adoptions of Russian children

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