Bilateral agreement being negotiated with Russia over adoptions

Maltese heterosexual couples will still be able to adopt from Russia, subject to the due processes as established by a bilateral agreement between Malta and Russia.

The issue of adoptions from Russia was discussed during a meeting which social policy minister Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca had recently with Russian Ambassador to Malta Boris Yu Marchuk.

"Marchuk confirmed that Russia has always looked favourably upon Maltese families and adoptive parents, and in this regard, the Russian Federation considers favourably adoptions by heterosexual couples in Malta, and continues to do so in the wake of the publication of local new legislation resulting in civil unions," Coleiro Preca said in a statement.

But the Russian Federation will keep prohibiting adoptions of children by same-sex couples from countries where such unions are legalised.

"As a sending country it can decide through appropriate legal procedures where and to whom it sends its minors in inter-country adoptions," Coleiro Preca said.

"A bilateral agreement on cooperation between Malta and Russia on adoptions is currently being negotiated with a view to its conclusion in the near future. While Malta respects other countries' legislation this will in no way hinder the established national procedures emanating from Maltese legislation."

There are currently no legal obstacles for Maltese heterosexual couples to adopt children from Russia, Russian Ambassador Boris Marchuk has told MaltaToday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in summer signed a law banning the adoption of children by same-sex couples, as part of an increasingly conservative agenda the Kremlin has pursued since Putin's return to power.

The consequential effects of this law means that citizens of countries allowing same-sex marriages will not be able to adopt children from Russia, unless permitted by a bilateral agreement.

With the Maltese parliament in the process of legalising civil unions, Russia and Malta embarked on bilateral talks. Most likely, once civil unions legislation comes into force, adoptions by heterosexual couples in Malta would depend on a bilateral agreement.

The Maltese authorities should take a firm stand with Russia in favour of fundamental human rights and against any forms of discrimination, human rights activist and aditus foundation director Neil Falzon said.

He said that in all its bilateral negotiations, Malta should be open and transparent about its acceptance of same-sex couples adopting children.