Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree confirming the ratification of legislation regulating the adoption of Russian children by U.S. citizens.
The agreement was signed by the two countries in July 2011 and ratified by the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, earlier this month. Putin signed off on the ratification law on Saturday.
The legislation was first proposed in early 2010, after an American foster mother, Torry Hansen, sent seven-year-old adopted son Artyom Savelyev back to Russia alone, with a letter saying he had behavioral problems.
Russian officials claim at least 19 Russian children have died following abuse by American foster parents since adoption of Russian children by Americans began in the early 1990's.
