Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed legislation banning transgender people in Russia from adopting or fostering children as part of the country’s wider restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights.
The law, signed in July 2023, also banned medical procedures for gender transition and prevented people from legally changing their gender on official documents.
It also provides for marriages to be annulled if one spouse legally changes gender.
Russia later expanded the adoption restrictions to foreign nationals.
On November 23, 2024, Putin signed a law banning citizens of countries where gender transition is legal from adopting or becoming guardians of Russian children.
The measure affects at least 15 countries, including several European nations, Australia, Argentina and Canada.
The Russian government has described the broader measures as part of efforts to protect traditional family values.
The United States had already been barred from adopting Russian children since 2012 under a separate law.
