U.S. Department of State

Azerbaijan Adoptions Resume but Slowly

This notice replaces the notice of February 9, 2006

Intercountry adoptions from Azerbaijan resumed in August 2005, after an April 2004 suspension in order to conduct an investigation into adoption practices. To date, eight American families previously caught in the suspension have completed adoptions.   Several other adoption cases are moving forward, though families continue to face bureaucratic delays. The overall number of adoptions completed or in process remains very low compared to pre-suspension years.  

The Azerbaijani Parliament is expected to consider a new law on international adoption.” The Embassy will continue to seek clarification from the Azerbaijani Government about the future of adoptions and encourage international adoption as a viable option when domestic adoption is not possible for an Azerbaijani child.

At this time the Department of State urges all U.S. citizens thinking of adopting in Azerbaijan to consider very carefully the likely difficulties and continuing uncertainty. Although adoptions are technically open, a number of U.S. adoption service providers have decided the situation is in too much a state of flux for them to operate comfortably. There are no guarantees that adoptions will be achieved on a regular basis and in a transparent manner.

 

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