The Kremlin children's rights ombudsman warned on Tuesday that Russia could outlaw foreign adoptions if the United States does not agree to a treaty governing adoptions of Russian children by American parents, Reuters reported. Moscow is pushing for an adoption treaty with Washington after an American woman sent her 7-year-old adopted son back to Russia alone on a plane this month, shocking both Russians and Americans and stoking long-standing tension over the issue. Ahead of a visit by U.S. diplomats this week to discuss adoption, ombudsman Pavel Astakhov told Reuters that Russian lawmakers could pass legislation prohibiting foreign adoptions if the United States baulks at the demand for a treaty. -- SPA
