Upper house approves Moscow's retaliation against Magnitsky Act

The upper house of parliament has approved a bill banning Americans from adopting Russian children.

Moscow's response to America's Magnitsky Act – which imposes sanctions on officials linked to the death in custody of Sergei Magnitsky, an anti-corruption lawyer – is now with President Vladimir Putin for approval.

Senior figures including the Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, and deputy Prime Minister, Olga Golodets, have said it may violate an international convention on children's rights. But Mr Putin – who is expected to make a decision within the next fortnight – has described the so-called Yakovlev List as an emotional but appropriate response.