Americans live in an "instant satisfaction" society. So, if the American couple didn't feel their expected "instant satisfaction" with the adopted boy, they dumped him. So it is in America. At least they didn't beat him to death. Russia should think twice before permitting American couples to adopt Russian kids.

That is the problem of treating children like pets. Thousands of families every year abandon their dogs, above all after the Summer. The same way, some families which can afford to feed their adopted children, abandon them if they don´t like the "product". For that family, their new "foreign" son was just another dog, and once they got tired of him, they decided to abandon their pet. In Spain, and I suppose in most countries, that action is considered criminal.

Not knowing the whole details and without rushing to judgment--this situation, if true, will undoubtedly have a tremendous negative affect on the lives of many, many children living in orphanages throughout Russia. The ripple effect on this is never ending. The prospective families going through the international adoption process or those contemplating this will now be forced to to adopt elsewhere (not that there isn't a need elsewhere). What this situation shows is that the system failed. The adoption agency dropped the ball and allowed someone to become a parent, a represtative of the United States; by letting them get through the home study. The agency should be reprimanded seriously and the adoptive parent should be held criminally responsible. As a citizen of the United States, it is well known what resources are available to those who have found themselves in a parental situation in which they need help. Shame on them for not reaching out for assistance. Unbelievable. I can not believe this.

"Not knowing the whole details and without rushing to judgment". No matter what, I believe that there must be a civilized way of dealing with this situation. Didn’t they know that an orphan child is a traumatised child and it takes years (if not forever) to recover from trauma and regain trust in people?All right, the adoption did not work for them. This does not justify dumping a child as if he was a dog or an unwanted item bought in a local store. As for me, this family should not be allowed to adopt children of any nationality and close attention should be paid to how they treat their own children if they have any.

This is what i do not get, with the falling population in Russia,why still adopt out to foreign countries? especially when you keep hearing of the same kids been killed and mistreated.

This is extremely sad. Children who grow up in orphanages may on a cursory evaluation be thought to be normal, however, they often lack the ability to form attachments, or to the complex adjustments needed to make the leap to family life. Social workers in both the US and Russia, when priming adoptive families need to make sure that each family realizes that this child might never be "just like a biological child". It may take years for such a child to react to his parents with respect, love and consideration, as they hope a biological child might. This said, there are agencies within the United States who do locate, and support those involved in an international adoption with "insurmountable challenges". Please know that there are ALWAYS American loving families willing to open their hearts to a child who might not ever be able to love them back. They will also do this within a framework of full knowledge and respect of the child's Russian culture and heritage. My family's prayers go out to Artyom in the hope that he finds the correct home this time, with a mother and father patient enough to wait through his challenges, and mature enough to seek help and receive it, when the inevitable bumps in adoption occur. Remember that although a few cases of international adoption outrages do surface and indeed occur, that most internationally adopted children from Russia to the US go on to become cherished family members who enjoy excellent opportunities for health care, counselling, and education. They also bring a rich Russian culture to their new family, and an American family becomes exposed to all of the history, art, and creative thinking of Russia, which can benefit everyone.

WOW, having watched RT this afternoon I was completely blown away by the actions of the American family and their obvious ignorance toward human life. I was adopted at the age of two, and had what I feel was a stable upbringing and lived in a secure, loving environment. Now, at age 50, having had kind and loving parents, family and friends, my heart goes out to the youngster and I cry inside for him. I don’t believe we have such callous disregard for children here in Canada, and all Americans should feel anger, resentment and embarrassment toward the so called “parents” in this case. If there is any way to prosecute these people it should clearly be sought, it will not help the child, however a public trial and humiliation of these “parents” may deter others in the future from this type of behaviour. It would be beneficial if an organization such as RT or others were to establish some sort of public trust for this child, he will need all the help we can provide. I for one would happily donate to this child’s cause, and I suspect I am not the only one out there that would. Our children are the future, they are the little people who grow to become our leaders and innovators. Without them we all have nothing to look forward to.

Kihnu, that is really, really unfair. I am an American citizen and I adopted a child from China. She is the most treasured child in the world. I would kill for her. Don't lump all of us in one category. That is simply an uneducated view. The next adoption that my husband and I were planning was from Russia. This puts us in a difficult position. This woman should be help criminally responsible.

The callous note and the cruel way this young boy was shipped back to Russia is just the tip of an iceberg. Hopefully Russian officials will document their findings and insist that U.S. and Tennessee law enforcement officials investigate and prosecute the adoptive parents and other family members including the grandmother who placed the boy on the United Airlines flight. The adoptive mother is possibly a nurse, and state of Tennessee's licensing board should launch proceedings to revoke her nursing certification if this is indeed the case. Apparently these "parents" have another son, and he may be a victim of abuse as well. I disagree that Americans generally expect "instant satisfaction," although my nation has its share of evildoers. The mistreatment of any child cannot be justified for any reason. Even if the adoption agency deceived this family about the boy's health as claimed in the note, it is no excuse to heap more abuse on the boy by dumping him off like a stray cat in Moscow.

I know people here in USA who have tried to adopt children. It took them years and over $10,000 - per child - just to get through the legal process and "prove" they would be competent parents. It is ridiculously easy, though, for just anybody to adopt a child from some other countries, including Russia. Russia, in its own defense, needs to strengthen its adoption process, especially for children that will be leaving the country and leaving its regulatory control. USA regulations apply mainly to people trying to adopt within this country, not so much to those trying to bring children in from abroad. It is a shame because any nut case can essentially "buy" foreign children. I don't blame FM Lavrov for announcing (in today's radio news) that there was a moratorium on adoptions to USA. Russia needs to re-think how it will allow ANY adoptions out of the country. It is not as if the Russians cannot afford to take care of their own, as was often the case in the 1990s. Times have changed.

I remember watching an episode of "Adoption Stories" in the Discovery Health channel in which a Florida couple adopted a kid from Russia (don't remember if a boy or a girl), saying that they were doing it because in the U.S. the children put for adoption "don't even look american" (!!!)... Things like that should be a red flag, but of course they said it while no Russians were present. As for this case, whatever the circumstances, sending this child like parcel cannot be justified.

The Russians are lying. If the child was adopted at age seven and was in the orphanage from birth, there is no way this child was "normal." The problem is not adoptive American families, the problem is the Russian orphanage system itself, which leaves children with reactive attachment disorder, severe cognitive delays, nonexistent social skills and overall deprivation. In many orphanages the kids are undernourished, they get no hugs and kisses, and are left in their cribs to "cry it out." There is a process of "undoing" adoptions in the US which is called disruption, is a legal procedure, and is the last resort of many adoptive parents who find they cannot parent these children. Kids with RAD fight, they steal, they rage, they have no empathy, they are cruel and the prognosis for "repair" is extremely poor. While I don't know the circumstances around why this particular child was sent to Russia "alone," I do not at all condemn the family for undoing the adoption. They have potentially saved themselves and their families years of hurt, betrayal, expense and stress. They have potentially saved the lives of other children living with them and saved their own lives.

It is surprising to see Russian authorities allowing adoptions of healthy children when the country complain about decreasing population and seeing the Prime Minister asking Russian women to have more children. Instead of wasting huge sums of money for useless military gadgets (like the Mistral) why not make it easy for desperate parents to keep their sons and daughters. In the saddest cases the state could rise the young Russians. In the long run, it will be profitable for the country. Most nations practice the same insane politic toward their youths and we see the results. In the developed states, we have huge problems with civilities, bad behavior, refusal of decent education and constant increase in crimes perpetrated by young adults. Those are the produce of selfish societies, money'slaves having lost repairs and values. Russia is just taking the same trail as the rest of us: children and pets are commodities which can be thrown away. After having so much suffered during the war, Russia should know better and do what is necessary to protect her children. It seems to me that socialism was more conscious of such realities. Sincerely...JCM

The decision of the government to suspend Russian adoptions, and to pull the placement license of the American agency is misguided. Literally, THOUSANDS of orphaned Russian children and orphaned sibling groups have come to the United States where they have loving families, positive futures, and a chance at an education and to parent healthy families of their own in the future. These little Russian citizens keep the culture of Russia alive in their new homes and families also. The sad stories happen, but they are few, and horrible things happen to children in Russian orphanages too. I urge the government of Mother Russia to make the best choice for their youngest orphan citizens. Until there is a willing Russian family for each orphan within Russia, please continue to place with good international families when you can locate them. Bolshoi spasiba.

"While I don't know the circumstances around why this particular child was sent to Russia 'alone,' I do not at all condemn the family for undoing the adoption." Vic John's comments are as callous as the actions of this woman in Tennessee, and should be discounted. Any moral, right-thinking person -- whether American, Russian, or what have you -- knows that treating a child in such a manner is both wrong and evil. Accordingly, such actions should be condemned, without reservation. There are good Americans and bad Americans, just like there are good Russians and bad Russians. Please, let's not punish these poor orphaned children over the actions of one demented person.

This is embarassing. This so called Mother thinks that a child is disposable. Children are our future. If this boy is having anxiety when his adoptive mother is mentioned then she is the source of the problem. Children rarely lie about things so important. They are the most brutally honest citizens on the planet, and most of the time they dont even know it. Adopted children have problems but this does not excuse such a blatant disreguard for the fact he was a person. This child was taken away from the only home that he knew and was mistreated and returned to sender like a piece of mail. This is an abomination and an intolerable act. At least for her actions (The so called MOTHER) she should be made to pay support for the child, because legally if she adopted him, he is her son whether she likes it or not and she Should have to support him until he is 18. Maybe this child was treated poorly at the orphanage but should never have been treatetd in this way in a home that decided that they would provide and care for him.

This is an unfortunate situation, for sure, but it is not the norm. Anyone adopting an older child should know the risks of psychological problems, and they should be screened to be sure they are ready for the worst. We have a beautiful boy from an adoption two years ago and we thank the Russian people for the gift. Hopefully an isolated incidence such as this won't deny other good American families this chance.

I aggry with your comment Meslin 100%...You make a correct point! Russia shall stop giving kids for adoptions in foreign states!This wrong practice in Russia case- have to stop.Russia is so rich that they can take care of their own kids for sure! Meslin -you are right also in the case of socialism..that "bad"socialism did have a heart for healt,education,jobs and ofcourse for kids-they never treat them as today in this "modern and advance times" do..Looking at Russia need for more population giving kids for adoption shall be out of Q:...This bad parents got their name and I can not blame all nation for that...There is a many cases of this(and worse) around the world! We shall not forget that any state who can take care of their on is a first one who DUMP their kids!In the case of parents and also any states-kids are the most valuable things to have-the only worte thing in our lifes - OURS FUTURE! Thanke you!

My wife and I are Americans in the process of adopting from Russia. Our hearts are breaking for this little boy and we are appalled at this woman's actions. All we want is to give a loving home with a mother and father for children who don't have any. We are hoping and praying that Russia and the US work out the proper safeguards to prevent such an atrocity from happening again quickly so we and the other families in process get these children loving homes.