Four Belarusian children reported adopted by foreigners this year

There are more than 32,000 under-18-year-old orphans in Belarus at present, with as many as 23,176 placed in adoptive families or foster care homes, according to the official.

The deputy minister stressed that a bill that the lower chamber passed on Wednesday would not complicate the adoption procedure for Belarusian families. "All measures are aimed at making the process open, lawful and suiting the interests of children to the highest possible degree. Belarus and the education ministry in particular have decided to proceed above all from the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Inter-country Adoption on all adoption matters," she said.

According to Ms. Kavalyova, 75 percent of children eligible for adoption suffer from chronic illnesses. "If treatment cannot be offered in Belarus, child protection agencies have the right to make the child eligible for international adoption. There are no such children on the international adoption list today," she added.

Speaking at the session, lawmaker Syarhey Kastsyan voiced fierce opposition to adoptions by foreigners. "A state that gives its children abroad for adoption has no right to exist. This is a bankrupt state," he said