On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said the majority of Russian ministers don't support a ban on US citizens adopting Russian children.

      "A lot of people in the Cabinet were against the recently approved legislation, at least in the form it was passed,” Dvorkovich said at a meeting with students. He also said it should be possible to resolve child protection issues without resorting to such “harsh” measures.

      The ban on US nationals adopting Russian children came into effect on January 1, shortly after Washington had introduced sanctions against Russian officials suspected of human rights abuses. Then the legislation was publicly criticized by Science and Education Minister Dmitry Livanov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and a Minister of Social Affairs Olga Golodets. It also has triggered a wave of protests and emotional disputes, with rallies in Moscow both for and against it.