Russian MPs vote on measure to ban US adoptions

Several protesters were arrested today outside the upper chamber of Russia’s parliament as it prepared to vote on a controversial measure banning Americans from adopting Russian children.

The bill was endorsed by the lower house last week and would be sent to president Vladimir Putin to sign if the Federation Council votes for it today. It is one part of a larger measure by angry MPs retaliating against a recently signed US law that calls for sanctions against Russians deemed to be human rights violators.