Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said imposing a ban on adoptions of Russian children by U.S. nationals would be "wrong."
Lavrov's comments on December 18 came as the lower house of parliament is preparing to debate legislation in a second reading on December 19 that would include a ban on such adoptions.
The proposed ban comes after U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law last week a bill that imposes sanctions on Russians allegedly connected with human rights abuses.
The "Magnitsky Act" is named after Sergei Magnitsky, a whistle-blowing Russian lawyer who died in police custody in 2009.
The State Duma has already approved in a first reading a retaliatory measure that calls for the blacklisting of Americans judged to have violated the human rights of Russians, including children adopted from Russia.
Lavrov's comments on December 18 came as the lower house of parliament is preparing to debate legislation in a second reading on December 19 that would include a ban on such adoptions.
The proposed ban comes after U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law last week a bill that imposes sanctions on Russians allegedly connected with human rights abuses.
The "Magnitsky Act" is named after Sergei Magnitsky, a whistle-blowing Russian lawyer who died in police custody in 2009.
The State Duma has already approved in a first reading a retaliatory measure that calls for the blacklisting of Americans judged to have violated the human rights of Russians, including children adopted from Russia.