Adopted Russian Boy Dies In Texas: State Departments Awaits Results Of Police Investigation

	Adopted Russian Boy Dies In Texas: State Departments Awaits Results Of Police Investigation Russian officials are seeking information on the death in Texas last month of a three year-old adopted Russian child. The boy, Max Shatto, died on January 21. Texas officials are investigating the circumstances of his death and no arrests have been made. State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland called the death a tragedy on Tuesday (February 19). "This is obviously a terrible tragedy and it's our understanding that Texas authorities are still investigating the cause of death and that they themselves have not yet made any determination as to how the child died," she said. The case has fanned tensions between Russia and the US over child adoptions. Americans have adopted more than 60000 Russian children since the Soviet collapse in 1991, according to the US State Department. Russian lawmakers have recently announced a ban on all American adoptions in retaliation for US legislation cracking down on Russian human rights violations. Russian officials say the deaths of more than 19 Russian-born children adopted by American parents in the past decade motivated the law, as well as what they perceive as the overly lenient treatment of those parents by US courts and law enforcement. "None of us, not here, not anywhere in the world should jump to a conclusion about the circumstances until the police have had a chance to investigate. There have been very strong assertions made from Moscow, we are going to wait until the investigation is complete," Nuland said. An obituary posted <b>...</b>	From: MinWashingtonNews Views: 4 0 ratings
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