Russia has closed the year with one of the more odious and misguided acts of public policy in a long time. On Dec. 28, President Vladimir Putin signed a law that bans Americans from adopting Russian children and imposes other sanctions in retaliation for a new U.S. human rights law.
This venting of national spleen, intended to salve wounded Russian pride, victimizes anew the weakest and most vulnerable members of Russia. It should be repealed immediately.
"Dima's Law" is named after Dima Yakovlev, an adopted Russian child who died in 2008 after being left unattended by his adoptive father of Virginia in an overheated car for several hours. It bans the adoption of Russian children by Americans.