When Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last week that the country was banning Americans from adopting Russian orphans it didn't come as much of a surprise to Rick Morin.
Morin and his wife, Joan, who live in Durham, are the proud parents of three brothers, Aleksandr, Yuri and Nicholas, all of whom were born in Russia, orphaned and later adopted by the couple.
"Obviously, it's a disappointment but it's kinda been in the making for years," said Morin of the anti-adoption policy enacted Friday.
The Morin's first adopted Alex and Yuri in 1997, a process that took about two years, and Nicholas in 2004.
Alex is currently a sophomore at Sacred Heart University where he's a member of the school's cross country and track teams. Yuri is a freshmen at Central Connecticut State University where he plays baseball.
Nicholas has a few years before he follows in his brothers' footsteps at Coginchaug High School.
Russia's adoption program was the "best fit at the time" for the couple but Morin said he is sympathetic to the nearly four dozen families impacted by the adoption ban.
Many have been critical of the law, calling it retaliation for a new American law that bans Russians accused of human rights violations from coming here.
"The worst part right now is the people are stuck in the process of adopting," Morrin said. "It shows a worsening of the relationship between United States and Russia."
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