Russia's Foreign Ministry will ask the government to "suspend" adoptions of Russian children by U.S. citizens following an "incessant string of crimes" allegedly committed by American adoptive parents.



Russian authorities say that at least 17 Russian children have died in domestic violence incidents in their homes in the United States.



The ministry said on February 11 that adoptions should only continue after Moscow and Washington sign an agreement that would allow Russian monitors to visit the homes of adopted children.



In November, a couple from Pennsylvania was convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of their son, who was adopted from Russia.



U.S. nationals have adopted nearly 50,000 Russian children since the early 1990s.



Compiled from agency reports