MOSCOW, September 6 (RIA Novosti) - The State Duma, Russia's lower chamber of parliament, intends to discuss a draft parliamentary inquiry at a session on September 9 urging Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov to take necessary measures to protect Russian children adopted by foreigners.
Vladimir Katrenko, vice speaker of the State Duma heading up this issue, said the instances of violence against children had become more frequent lately and parliamentarians were concerned over the fate of children adopted by foreigners and living outside Russia.
Katrenko said that before reaching the eligible age, these children remained citizens of Russia. There are about 64,000 such children, he said.
Russian parliamentarians say bilateral agreements on inter-state cooperation regarding child adoption would be the most effective instrument of protection for Russian children adopted by foreigners.
"This form will enable the state to maintain control over compliance with adopted children's rights and interests," Katrenko said.
He said the parliamentary inquiry would propose that as a priority orphaned children be placed in Russian families.
Yekaterina Lakhova, the head of the State Duma committee on women, family, and children, said that 14 Russian children living abroad had died recently, including an eight-year-old boy who died from hunger in the United States in August.
