Kyrgyzstan's Social Development Ministry has granted licenses to seven foreign companies who have exclusive rights to conduct foreign adoptions in Kyrgyzstan.
Ministry spokeswoman Kymbat Kadyralieva told RFE/RL on May 13 that six of the companies are American and one is Swedish.
She said applications of several other international companies are currently being studied and could be approved.
Officials say the announcement means that international adoptions will resume in the near future.
Adoptions of Kyrgyz children by foreigners were suspended in 2011 after former Social Protection Minister Ravshan Sabirov was convicted of accepting bribes in connection with arranging adoptions.
The fallout from the Sabirov scandal prevented dozens of Kyrgyz orphans from being allowed to go home with their adoptive American parents.
Some of the children had severe handicaps and have died since the adoption moratorium was declared.
Ministry spokeswoman Kymbat Kadyralieva told RFE/RL on May 13 that six of the companies are American and one is Swedish.
She said applications of several other international companies are currently being studied and could be approved.
Officials say the announcement means that international adoptions will resume in the near future.
Adoptions of Kyrgyz children by foreigners were suspended in 2011 after former Social Protection Minister Ravshan Sabirov was convicted of accepting bribes in connection with arranging adoptions.
The fallout from the Sabirov scandal prevented dozens of Kyrgyz orphans from being allowed to go home with their adoptive American parents.
Some of the children had severe handicaps and have died since the adoption moratorium was declared.
