New Russian Law Complicates Lincoln Square Mom's Adoption

A new law is stopping a Lincoln Square mom from adopting a young boy from Russia, throwing her in the middle of international politics.

Suzy Koenig fell in love with 3-year-old Kirill when the two met at an orphanage in St. Petersburg, Russia just weeks ago, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The Lincoln Square resident adopted her now-8-year-old daughter from the same orphanage in 2008.

But Kirill’s adoption isn’t going as smoothly as the previous one because of a new bill signed into effect in December.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s new bill bans Americans from adopting Russian children. The Sun-Times reports the move was in retaliation for a new U.S. law that punishes human rights abuses in Russia.

The law affects more than 200 other families across the country.

“I’ve already given Kirill his middle name, Jordan... and my daughter chose the colors for his bedroom: blue and green,” Koenig told the Sun-Times.

She’s written and called politicians, but said many were too focused on the fiscal cliff. For now, the family's adoption remains in limbo.

The Sun Times reports 600,000 children in Russia needs homes with only 12,000 families interested in adopting. In the United States, about 400,000 children are living without parents.

Read the full story at the Chicago Sun Times.