Russian demonstrators rally in support of U.S. adoption ban

Source: Reuters

Thousands of people marched through Moscow on Saturday in an orderly show of support for a ban on adoptions of Russian children by Americans, echoing President Vladimir Putin's demands for better care for Russian orphans in their homeland.

Carrying signs with slogans including "Children are our future" and "America - hands off our children", activists mixed bitter criticism of the United States with calls for improvements in Russia's own care system.

"These children are ours. We shouldn't give them away," said Natalya Bakhinova, 56, walking in one of two columns led by marching bands that converged in Moscow's Pushkin Square.

Police said 12,000 people joined the rally, and organizers denied allegations some were coerced or paid to attend.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/02/us-russia-adoption-idUSBRE92107D20130302