In September of last year, American Torry Hansen adopted a 7-year old boy from Russia; at the end of last week she tried to make a Russian adoption return. Artyom Savelyev’s adoptive grandmother put him on a one-way flight back to Russia with a note pinned to his clothing. The family also paid a Russian man a $ 200 cash now to complete the Russian adoption return by taking the boy from the airport to the Russian Education and Science Ministry.
Russian adoption return attempted because of violence
Within the Russian adoption return attempt, the family claimed that they were afraid for their safety. When the family sent the boy back to Russia, the note included the paragraph:
“This child is mentally unstable. He is violent and has severe psychopathic issues, I was lied to and misled by the Russian Orphanage workers and director regarding his mental stability and other issues. After giving my best to this child, I am sorry to say that for the safety of my family, friends, and myself, I no longer wish to parent this child.”
The Russian boy’s adoptive grandmother has said in several interviews that the boy would hit, kick, spit, bite and would draw pictures of the house on fire, threatening to burn down the home he lived in and kill the entire family. When a social worker visited the family in January to check in, the family did not inform them of any issues.
International uproar over Russian adoption return
This attempted “Russian adoption return” has sparked anger in both countries and around the world. Instantly, Russia suspended the license of The World Association for Kids and Parents, the agency that handled the failed adoption. Russia is threatening to suspend all adoptions between the U.S. and Russia until a new treaty can be approved. The family that attempted the Russia adoption return can’t currently be prosecuted under any U.S. or Russian treaty. However, the U.S. State Department and Tennessee agencies are looking into possible prosecution for child abandonment.
Watch the reporting on the Russian adoption return
Russian adoption placements difficult
According to UNICEF, there are more than 740,000 children in Russia that have no parental custody and Russian adoption is very difficult. Foreign parents are encouraged to adopt Russian kids, because so few parents within Russia are willing to adopt. Adopting a child from any country is very costly, and many adoptive parents end up asking a personal loan business for help during the process. Russian officials are wary of U.S.-Russian adoptions, however, as there have recently been a spate of Russian adoption returns and failures.
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