Moscow - Russia expects to continue monitoring life of Russian children adopted by US parents even after the Russian-US agreement on adoption is terminated.
“Regardless of the fact that the agreement on international adoption cooperation with the United States will be cancelled on January 1, 2014, we will continue monitoring life of Russian children using regulations of the bilateral consulate convention of 1964,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a “governmental hour” at the Russian State Duma on Friday, March 22.
“We will continue to insist on getting information from the U.S. State Department on living conditions of Russian children adopted by U.S. citizens until a relevant agreement comes into effect,” Lavrov said.
This issue has been discussed during recent talks between Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, the Russian minister said. “He assured that he realized the existing problems and he would take measures to provide transparency in this sphere and more constructive cooperation with the Russian side,” Lavrov said.
“We’ll see how this political signal will go to the level of executive bodies,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov referred to the latest outrageous case, the death of Russia native Maxim Kuzmin in the United States. “Regardless of numerous requests, we have not yet received relevant documents on the boy’s death, including autopsy results, while we have the right to study such documents in accordance with the bilateral agreement of legal assistance on criminal cases concluded between Russia and the U.S. in 1999,” Lavrov said.
At the same time, Russia is seeking consulate access to the younger brother of Maxim Kuzmin, Kirill, from U.S. federal and local authorities.
“We want to understand in which conditions he is currently living. This is important to work out the issue we are dealing with now – his possible return to his homeland,” Lavrov said.
