After only eight months of parenting the Russian boy that she adopted, American Torry Hansen tried to make a Russian adoption return. The Russian boy’s adoptive grandmother pinned a note to his clothes and put him on a one-way flight back to Russia. The family also paid a Russian man a $ 200 quick cash to complete the Russian adoption return by taking the boy from the airport to the Russian Education and Science Ministry.
Russian adoption return prompted by violent outbursts
The family claimed that they attempted the Russian adoption return because they were worried for their safety. When the family sent the boy back to Russia, the note included the paragraph:
“This child is mentally unstable. He is violent and has severe psychopathic issues, I was lied to and misled by the Russian Orphanage workers and director regarding his mental stability and other issues. After giving my best to this child, I am sorry to say that for the safety of my family, friends, and myself, I no longer wish to parent this child.”
The boy’s adoptive family has said that he would threaten to kill everybody within the home. When a social worker visited the home in January, they did not report any issues.
Russian adoption return causes international tension
The Russian adoption return has caused anger around the world. The Russian education ministry has suspended the license of The World Association for Children and Parents, the agency that handled Artyom Savelyev’s Russian adoption. Russia is also threatening to suspend all American adoptions of Russian children until a new treaty is worked out between the two countries. The family that attempted the Russia adoption return can’t presently be prosecuted under any U.S. or Russian treaty. Some U.S. agencies are investigating the possibility of prosecuting the Russian adoption return family for child abandonment.
Watch news reports on the Russian adoption return
It is difficult to place Russian adoptions
With over 740,000 orphans in Russia, adoption is very difficult. Very few parents in Russia are willing to adopt, so agencies look for foreign parents. Many adoptive parents end up with funding from a personal loan business because the process is so expensive. Because of the Russian adoption return and other adoption failures, Russian officials have looked at U.S. adoptions with skepticism.
Sources
Associated Press
ABC News
