Moscow, Jun 2 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Foreign same-sex couples will be officially banned from adopting Russian children, a top official said."In accordance with the Russian Family Code, same-sex couples are barred from adopting children," said Alexei Levchenko, an aide to Russian deputy premier overseeing social issues, Olga Golodets.

"Most likely, courts won't authorise such adoptions without any additional legislative acts. However, an additional amendment will be passed, stipulating that adoptions are possible only for two-parent (traditional) foreign couples," Levchenko said.

Russia's ombudsman for children's rights, Pavel Astakhov, earlier said that Moscow should impose a moratorium on adoptions by French citizens now that France allows same-sex couples to marry and adopt children.

He said the Russian-French agreement on adoptions should be reconsidered because France's endorsement of gay marriage directly contradicts Russian legislation.