Mom: Russian adoption ban hurts all

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The president of Russia is set to sign a controversial bill that would no longer allow Americans to adopt Russian children.

It is an issue that affects adoptive families in Albuquerque.

Some parents are upset with the bill they say will deprive Russian orphans of the chance at a better life.

Sue Cyberski adopted 9-year-old Liza from Russia four years ago.

She says it's a shame it may be too late for other Albuquerque families interested in doing the same.

“There are just so many children who need to be adopted,” Cyberski says.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he'll sign a bill to stop Americans from adopting Russian children.

It is retaliation for an American law that calls for sanctions against Russians violating human rights.

Cyberski says both countries lose out in the deal.

“Russia is still emerging,” she says. “There's a lot of poverty. They have limited resources. So it's just a great opportunity in all sincerity for people to come here.”

Liza came to her new home in northeast Albuquerque and three weeks later celebrated her first Christmas.

New Mexico doesn't keep statewide records, but a local adoption agency, La Familia, says it facilitates about six Russian adoptions a year.

Cyberski says it's a long, expensive process that took her two years.

“From the beginning, there is the cost of doing the adoption plus all the time and energy,” she says. “The time and energy with the paperwork is like a part-time job."

Which just adds to the disappointment for families who may be going through it for nothing if the Russian bill is signed into law.

It can cost up to $30,000 to adopt a child from Russia including all the visits it takes to meet the child and do the paperwork.

Putin has two weeks to take action, but he's expected to make a decision sooner because the bill calls for the adoption ban to go into effect Tuesday.