MOSCOW, August 5 (RIA Novosti) - A recent opinion poll showed that 62% of Russians want stricter regulations on foreign adoption of Russian children.

The Public Opinion Foundation poll showed 18% of respondents did not think stricter regulations were needed, whereas 39% said foreign adoption should be prohibited (49% of those polled oppose foreign adoption).

Forty percent of respondents said they believed Russian children suffered cruel treatment in foreign families, whereas 32% said such treatment was rare and 1%, impossible.

When asked about the treatment of children adopted by Russian families, opinion was divided: 22% said they were treated cruelly, 38% said cruel treatment was rare, and 5% said such treatment was impossible.

Most respondents (52%) said a Russian family was a better place for an orphan than a foreign family. Commenting on this opinion, 6% of respondents referred to the cruel treatment of Russian children abroad, and 15% said it was easier for children to live in a familiar, native environment.

Twenty percent of respondents said the Russian children should stay in their native country because they are the country's resources.

Advocates of foreign adoption as a rule cited a higher standard of living, public health, and social protection overseas.

Most Russians (54%) said it was difficult for a Russian family to adopt a child from an orphanage, and 59% of those polled called for simplifying the procedures.

The survey was conducted July 30-31, 2005, and included 1,500 people from 100 settlements in 44 regions, territories, and republics of Russia. The margin of error did not exceed 3.6%.