Russians to march against anti-adoption law

Ordinary and prominent Russians planned Sunday to march through Moscow to protest a Kremlin law that banned US adoptions of Russian orphans and led to a further split in an already polarised society.

The latest anti-Kremlin protest comes after President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill introducing a blanket ban on US adoptions in reprisal for US legislation that targets Russian officials who have allegedly committed rights abuses.

Critics say the measure, swiftly dubbed the “law of scoundrels”, will rob many disabled orphans of the chance to receive adequate medical treatment abroad and triggered a rare split in the government.

Scores of Russians said they planned to join the march for the first time since unprecedented protests against Putin’s 13-year rule first shook Moscow in response to widespread fraud during parliamentary elections in December 2011.

Since then the protests which at their height gathered up to 120,000 near the Kremlin walls have died down, with Putin launching a tough crackdown on civil society upon his Kremlin comeback in May.

Eldar Ryazanov, one of the country’s best-loved film directors, called on Russians to stand up for their rights and those of the orphans.

“It is not possible to live like that. There’s a feeling that we are sinking into the epoch of the Inquisition,” the 85-year-old director said in a video appeal on YouTube, referring to a string of repressive laws adopted since Putin’s comeback.

“This is a criminal law,” added another popular director, Vladimir Mirzoyev, in reference to the anti-adoption measure.

“If all of us do not come out we will simply become accomplices to the crime,” he added.

Political activists have taken up the cause of Russian orphans to also make a broader point about widespread rights violations and will call for the dissolution of the Russian lower house of parliament, the State Duma.

They hope public anger may help breathe new life into the protest movement.

Observers say the latest Kremlin initiative has led to a huge split in society and dented the government’s moral authority.

Andrei Isayev, chairman of the Duma committee responsible for labour, social policies and veterans’ affairs, branded those planning to take to the streets “enemies” of Russia.

Moscow authorities said that up to 20,000 are allowed to participate in the march through central Moscow scheduled to begin at 0900 GMT.