Russia moves to ban adoptions from countries that allow gender change
Parliament’s lower house backs measure and says it was aimed at upholding the ‘traditional values’ of the country.
Russia's parliament has given initial approval to legislation that would prohibit nationals from countries permitting gender changes from adopting Russian children.
On Wednesday, the legislature stated that the measure is vital for maintaining the country's "traditional values." Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favor of the proposed law during its first reading, with 397 votes for and just one against.
The bill aims to ban citizens of nations that allow "the change of sex by medical intervention, including the use of medicine," or permit individuals to alter their gender on official identity documents.
Last year, Russia enacted a ban on legal or medical gender changes as part of a broader crackdown on LGBTQ rights.
The recent adoption legislation, which had already received conceptual approval from the government, gained support from the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, in its first of three readings. It must still pass two additional readings and receive approval from the upper chamber before being signed into law by President Vladimir Putin.
The bill's proponents argue that it is intended to protect adopted Russian children from what they characterize as potentially harmful conditions in NATO countries, which support Ukraine in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
"This decision is aimed at safeguarding childhood and traditional values," said Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the Duma and a close ally of Putin, following the vote. “We must protect our children from the risks they may encounter when adopted or fostered by citizens of foreign countries where gender reassignment is permitted,” Volodin added.
Earlier this month, in an interview with Russian media, Volodin criticized Europe and the United States for allowing gender reassignment, describing them as "sick" and targeting individuals "who were men yesterday and who today call themselves women."
The foreign adoption of Russian children has significantly declined since 2012, when the country prohibited Americans from adopting. It has nearly ceased altogether since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In 2023, only six Russian children were adopted by foreign citizens, according to official data reported by AFP news agency.
Government figures cited in Russian media indicate that 358,000 children were in care homes at the beginning of the year.
