Seattle University Law Library

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed into law a bill which bans the adoption of Russian children by U.S. citizens. The Russian government’s action may portend the denunciation of a bilateral treaty on the subject which entered into force for both states on November 1, 2012. The U.S., which encouraged Russia to join the Hague Inter-Country Adoption regime, settled for the bilateral instrument in July of 2011. The termination language found in Article 17, clause 5, states that, “This agreement shall remain in force until one year from the date that one of the Parties informs the other Party through diplomatic channels of its intention to terminate this Agreement.” Whether this language affects Russia’s responsibilities under the treaty is unclear at this time. Read the treaty here.