Gratitude is a sickness suffered by dogs.

So said Stalin, according to his secretary, Boris Bazhanov (in his memoir).  Things haven't changed in Russia, as they still sacrifice little children to their political aims there;

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a ban on Americans adopting Russian orphans.

The law is a reaction to the US Magnitsky Act, which blacklists Russian officials accused of rights abuses.

The death of anti-corruption lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in 2009 became a symbol of the fight against corruption in Russia, and soured relations between Russia and the US.

Given the history of Russia over the last century, we are not surprised, but what to make of this;

The US state department says it "deeply regrets" the passing of the law.

'The State Department'?  It has an opinion of its own? 

Not to mention that, Mr. Magnitsky, according to the BBC story, seems to have been murdered in prison after being incarcerated on trumped up charges after he embarrassed Russian officials by exposing their corruption;

Magnitsky represented London-based Hermitage Capital Management (HCM). He uncovered what he described as a web of corruption involving Russian tax officials, including the alleged theft of more than $200m (£125m).

After reporting it to the authorities, he was himself detained on suspicion of aiding tax evasion, and died in custody on 16 November 2009 at the age of 37.

US-born fund manager Bill Browder, who runs Hermitage Capital, spearheaded efforts in the US to put pressure on Russia over the Magnitsky case. Mr Browder was a major investor in Russia before Magnitsky's arrest.

One death is a tragedy, but thousands of orphans denied families to love them is only a statistic, in Putin's Russia.