Last Updated: Friday, 19 May 2023, 07:24 GMT

Americans allowed to adopt Kyrgyz children

Publisher Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Publication Date 30 July 2014
Cite as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Americans allowed to adopt Kyrgyz children, 30 July 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/54003e768.html [accessed 20 May 2023]
DisclaimerThis is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

July 30, 2014

By RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service

Five U.S. citizens have been allowed to adopt Kyrgyz orphans.

Officials with Kyrgyzstan's Social Development Ministry told RFE/RL on July 30 that a court had granted the right to the Americans days ago and the ruling will come into force in one month.

In May, several international companies obtained licenses to conduct foreign adoptions in Kyrgyzstan.

Adoptions of Kyrgyz children by foreigners were suspended in 2011 after former Social Protection Minister Ravshan Sabirov was convicted of accepting bribes for arranging adoptions.

The fallout from the Sabirov scandal prevented dozens of Kyrgyz orphans from being allowed to leave with their adoptive American parents, who had started the adoption process in 2009.

Some of the children had severe handicaps and have died since the adoption moratorium was declared.

Link to original story on RFE/RL website

Copyright notice: Copyright (c) 2007-2009. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036

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