MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The effort by Russia’s parliament to ban Americans from adopting Russian children brings back anxious memories for a Twin Cities couple.

Rick and Barb Durig went through a similar experience over 2 years ago when a political tug-of-war held up the adoption of three adolescent sisters from Russia.

The Durigs eventually succeeded in adopting the girls, now aged 11, 13 and 20.

Rick Durig thinks this latest dispute will be resolved, as well.

“It’s a shame that we’re using the welfare of children as a political football. Most people in Russia are not of the ilk to think it’s (adoption by Americans) a bad thing,” he said.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO’s Steve Murphy Reports

More than 60,000 Russian children have been adopted in the United States in the past two decades. Minnesota is the leading state for Russian adoptions.

Russian president Vladimir Putin will decide whether to sign the bill which was passed by parliament in retaliation for U.S. sanctions against Russians considered human rights violators.