Opposition protests against "Dima Yakovlev's Law" in Rostov-on-Don

On January 13, in Rostov-on-Don, a picket was held against the law, which prohibits US citizens to adopt Russian children.

The action was announced by civil activists and regional structures of opposition organizations "Solidarity", "Left-Wing Front", "United Civil Front", and it was sanctioned by the city authorities. It was attended by about 100 persons. Participants of the rally lined up in a "live corridor" through which passers-by left the park and chanted slogans calling to dissolve the Duma and to allow all orphans to have families, the "Interfax" reports.

"This time, officials decided to allow us holding the action on the place in front of the entrance to the Gorky Park," said Vladislav Ryazantsev, the coordinator of the Rostov Branch of the "Left-Wing Front" Party. The organizers were glad, since at the weekend, a lot of people usually visit the Park, the "Novaya Gazeta" reports.

On December 26, 2012, the Federation Council voted unanimously to adopt the "Dima Yakovlev's Law" banning the adoption of Russian orphans by foster parents from the United States. The document was adopted by the State Duma on December 21 as the Russia's response to the "Magnitsky Act", which introduced visa sanctions against a number of Russian citizens. On December 28, the Law was signed by the Russian President.