BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbaeva has signed a law that allows foreigners to adopt children in Kyrgyzstan, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
The law -- which was approved by parliament on April 14 -- states that a government agency will supervise the adoption of orphans in Kyrgyzstan by foreign parents.
The adoption of Kyrgyz orphans by foreigners has been under the control of the Education and Science Ministry since 2006. A total of 236 orphans were adopted by people from the United States, Israel, Italy, France, Germany, and Australia from 2006 to 2009.
In 2009, the government put a moratorium on international adoptions after some alleged illegal activities were reported by the media.
More than 60 Kyrgyz orphans -- the majority of whom have serious health problems -- have been prevented from joining their adoptive families in the United States since the ban was introduced and have been held in Kyrgyz orphanages until now.
Two of the children who were to be adopted died recently of their health ailments.
The presidential press service announced today that Otunbaeva told the government to amend all corresponding regulations related to the new law within three months so that they support the new legislation.
Read more in Kyrgyz here
The law -- which was approved by parliament on April 14 -- states that a government agency will supervise the adoption of orphans in Kyrgyzstan by foreign parents.
The adoption of Kyrgyz orphans by foreigners has been under the control of the Education and Science Ministry since 2006. A total of 236 orphans were adopted by people from the United States, Israel, Italy, France, Germany, and Australia from 2006 to 2009.
In 2009, the government put a moratorium on international adoptions after some alleged illegal activities were reported by the media.
More than 60 Kyrgyz orphans -- the majority of whom have serious health problems -- have been prevented from joining their adoptive families in the United States since the ban was introduced and have been held in Kyrgyz orphanages until now.
Two of the children who were to be adopted died recently of their health ailments.
The presidential press service announced today that Otunbaeva told the government to amend all corresponding regulations related to the new law within three months so that they support the new legislation.
Read more in Kyrgyz here
