Moscow - Almost two thirds of Russians (64%) treat the law banning U.S. citizens from adopting Russian children positively and their number grew 10 percent on the year (against 54% in 2013), sociologists of the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) said.
According to the survey held in January 25-26 among 1,600 respondents in 130 cities, towns and villages in 42 Russian regions, territories and republics, despite the fact that most Russian citizens (78% against 85% in 2013) are aware of the so-called Dima Yakovlev law, the knowledge of its contents decreased on the year.
The share of respondents well aware of the document dropped 15% on the year (from 38% to 23%), while the number of respondents with superficial knowledge of the document grew from 47% to 55% and 21% of Russians heard about it for the first time, the poll showed.
Meanwhile, 20% said they did not support the document. This stance is mostly shared by Moscow and St. Petersburg residents (34%) and supporters of non-parliamentary parties (26%). At the same time, 16% respondents failed to respond on their stance, the poll showed.
Over a half of Russians (52%) believe that the ban for U.S. citizens to adopt Russian children had done more good, firstly due to the fact that “our children are mistreated in the U.S.” (27%). While 26% respondents think that Russian children should live in Russia and 19% of Russian citizens suppose that it is not safe for Russian children to live in the U.S., the poll showed.
The positive consequences of passing the law are firstly noted by people over 60 years old (57%) and residents of mid-size cities (58%), the survey showed.
While 17% of Russians think that the law had a negative impact on the state of orphans in Russia as it deprives children of better living conditions (30%) and of a chance to find a family (22%) and takes opportunities for them being adopted from sick children (14%).
A third (31%) of respondents do not have a stance on the matter.
The law banning U.S. citizens from adopting Russian children came into effect on Jan. 1, 2013. The bill was named after two-year-old Russian boy Dima Yakovlev, who died in the U.S. in 2008 after his adoptive father forgot him in the car for nine hours.
