Multiple Permit Orders
The Russian Federal Ministry of Education & Science (MoE) published multiple orders to its official website today setting the status of Permits for Adoption Activity for several foreign adoption agencies. Among the actions taken: Two permits were denied, one was revoked, one was granted, and one was suspended.
Foreign adoption agencies denied permits were Italian agency "ABSI," and "Mazale," whose country was not identified.
The revoked permit belonged to French agency "Doctors of the World." The reason given for revocation was a violation of the rules in regard to submitting post-placement reports.
The suspended permit belongs to USA agency "WACAP," which was involved in the adoption of Artyom Savaliev, who was sent back to Russia alone by his adoptive mother last week. This event has created a very large international incident. According to the ministerial order, their permit was suspended due to a violation of Government Resolution No. 654 article 25, paragraph "b," which requires the foreign adoption agency to report, within 5 working days, any event adversely affecting the life or well-being of the adopted child. The suspension is given a term of one month for resolution.
Finally, a permit was granted to Italian agency "In Cammino per la Famiglia."
Also today, many news organizations are reporting that adoptions to foreigners have been suspended in Russia as a result of the Savaliev/Hanssen case. This news is being attributed to a spokesperson within the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The spokesperson did make a statement that included that comment in passing, but it was not an announcement of a general suspension. I am continuing to look for confirmation of this news. At this point, I believe it is not wise to invest too much faith into this one statement.
EDITED TO ADD: The US Embassy in Moscow has posted a notice to their website indicating that the rumored suspension of adoptions to Americans is false. Additionally, several news reports have now been published to refute this rumor as well. To all pre-adoptive parents: take heart. I'll keep watching things and I'll post a more comprehensive summary of this current situation during the next day or so.
Foreign adoption agencies denied permits were Italian agency "ABSI," and "Mazale," whose country was not identified.
The revoked permit belonged to French agency "Doctors of the World." The reason given for revocation was a violation of the rules in regard to submitting post-placement reports.
The suspended permit belongs to USA agency "WACAP," which was involved in the adoption of Artyom Savaliev, who was sent back to Russia alone by his adoptive mother last week. This event has created a very large international incident. According to the ministerial order, their permit was suspended due to a violation of Government Resolution No. 654 article 25, paragraph "b," which requires the foreign adoption agency to report, within 5 working days, any event adversely affecting the life or well-being of the adopted child. The suspension is given a term of one month for resolution.
Finally, a permit was granted to Italian agency "In Cammino per la Famiglia."
Also today, many news organizations are reporting that adoptions to foreigners have been suspended in Russia as a result of the Savaliev/Hanssen case. This news is being attributed to a spokesperson within the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The spokesperson did make a statement that included that comment in passing, but it was not an announcement of a general suspension. I am continuing to look for confirmation of this news. At this point, I believe it is not wise to invest too much faith into this one statement.
EDITED TO ADD: The US Embassy in Moscow has posted a notice to their website indicating that the rumored suspension of adoptions to Americans is false. Additionally, several news reports have now been published to refute this rumor as well. To all pre-adoptive parents: take heart. I'll keep watching things and I'll post a more comprehensive summary of this current situation during the next day or so.
Labels: Agencies, Pre-adoption, Russia, The Process
Written by Jim
7 Comments
Published: Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 7:03 AM
Reader Comments:
Can you explain to me exactly why WACAP's license was suspended? According to the article they were in violation of not reporting, within 5 working days, any event adversely affecting the life or well-being of the adopted child. The suspension is given a term of one month for resolution. So even though they were not contacted by this woman of her sending this child back to Russia, they are still held liable for her actions? Just curious so I fully understand. Thanks
The Russian MoE did not explain exactly why WACAP's permit was suspended. They only pointed to the violation spelled out in the suspension order. Yes, I agree with you that it seems unfair, because WACAP themselves claim that they knew nothing about any issues with the family until the boy was back in Russia.
I pointed out on the day the new permit rules went into effect that I was worried many good agencies would run afoul of the rules through no fault of their own. You can read about it in this blog post from April of last year:
Putin Tightens the Screws (er, Rules)
One of the things specified in that set of new rules is that the agency must notify the MoE within 5 days of any case in which the child is failing to adapt to the adoptive family. Evidently, they decided they weren't notified in time in this case. The MoE cannot legally hold the adoptive family accountable in the USA, so they pull on the only thing they have, which is the permit held by the placing agency. It's problematic.
Thanks Jim, I went back and read the older post. New to your site. Thanks for all the great or in my case maybe not so great info.
Jim, We need a new update when you get a chance. Thanks!
Last I heard was that the meeting was postponed because of the volcanic ash messing up air travel. Please keep us updated on the rescheduling of the meeting, Jim.
Thanks!
Jim,
Any new update regarding WACAP's suspension. Does the MOE post an update on their site regarding status after a one month suspension and are they usually timely on the post?
It's hard to say how quickly the Russian MoE will act on the WACAP permit. When they suspended COH's permit last year, they gave it a on month period for correction. Then, nothing happened for several months. Suddenly, it was reinstated. So, the one month time frame may or may not mean anything.
In any case, we are very nearly one month away. So, if they act soon, we may something posted to the website in the coming weeks. Normally, they post orders to the website within a week of their issue.
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