Ambassador: Russian Boy "In Very Good Hands"
The U.S. ambassador to Russia said Americans share the anger and "sense of bewilderment" he has seen expressed in the Russian media about the rejection of a 7-year-old Russian boy by his adoptive U.S. family.
Speaking from Moscow on CBS's "The Early Show" Tuesday morning, Ambassador John Beyrle said Artyom Savelyev, who was put onto a flight to Russia alone by his adoptive U.S. family, is currently in a children's hospital in the Russian capital and is being "very well cared for.
"He's in very good hands, and we expect probably to go in to see him a bit later today or tomorrow," Beyrle said.
Beyrle said the outrage he has been reading from commentators and bloggers in Russia "mirrors what I've been hearing from the United States as well. A lot of people in the United States share that sense of bewilderment that a parent would do this."
Americans adopt approximately 1,600 Russian children each year, and Moscow's suspension of adoptions to the U.S. has put many would-be adoptive parents in limbo.
More on Artyom Savelyev's Case:
Officials to Visit Moscow to Discuss Adoptions (4.12.10)
Sheriff: Family Was Afraid of Russian Boy (4.12.10)
Return of Orphan to Russia Sparks Uproar (4.11.10)
Russia's Adoptions Threat Worries Advocates (4.10.10)
To Russia, Without Love (4.09.10)
CBS News correspondent Whit Johnson reports that the State Department is sending a high level delegation to Russia to address the adoption issue.
This morning Beyrle said he was confident that Russian and American authorities will be able to come to an agreement over future adoptions of Russian children by Americans, which are currently suspended.
"We've made very clear to the Russian side that we're willing to talk with them about some sort of a bilateral understanding where we'd assure that these sorts of things really can't happen - that we'd look more closely at the placement, the follow-up, where the children come from in Russia," Beyrle told "Early Show" anchor Harry Smith.
"And our proposal to send a team out here to Moscow has been accepted now by the Russian government in principle and we're working out the dates - probably next week when we'll start more formal discussions leading to that kind of agreement."
Meanwhile, in Shelbyville, Tenn., the woman who adopted Artyom and later sent him on a one-way trip back to Russia has chosen not to speak to investigators. No one has answered the door at the Hansen home for several days.
Local authorities are struggling to sort out the case. Sheriff Randall Boyce told Johnson that Torry Hansen's decision strains an already confused and complicated case.
"What we are going to do is whatever we are big enough to do to make it right," Boyce said.
His office is exploring possible charges, from child endangerment to abuse.
"All I know is that there are allegations of abuse," said Detective Becky Horde. "Mmy job now is to find out if there is something to support it."
The sheriff says he's unaware of any previous incidents involving the family.
The Seattle-based agency that facilitated Artyom Savelyev's adoption in September said it was "shocked and saddened by this turn of events."
Another family who adopted through the same agency said behavior problems are no reason to give up on a lifelong commitment.
"Just very sad and disappointed, 'cause I do think there are resources she could have tapped into," said Janine Douglass.