WASHINGTON, August 2 - RAPSI. The U.S. Department of State is assisting the Russian Embassy in Washington with working together with Virginia's authorities, who recently charged Matthew and Amy Sweeney with abusing their adopted Russian child, a representative of the U.S. Department of State told RIA Novosti.

Eight-year-old Daniil Kruchin, renamed Daniel Alexander by the Sweeneys, was repeatedly victimized by his adopted parents. The family lives in Bristow. The local authorities reported that the boy had escaped from his adopted parents. The police found numerous injuries and bruises on the body of the child. A case on child abuse has been initiated against the Sweeneys. The child is currently in the care of local social services.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said the fact that the U.S. authorities had ignored the many years of child abuse in this case brings into question the readiness of Washington to comply with the official agreement on adoption.

"The U.S. government condemns all violence towards children and it is ready to do all it can to protect the welfare of adopted children," said the U.S. Department of State.
"The Department of State is in contact with the Russian embassy in Washington so as to assist in its negotiations with Virginia's officials," said a department's spokesman.

Previously, RIA Novosti reported claims from Russian officials that over 19 adopted Russian children have been killed as a result of abusive adopted parents since adoption between the two countries was legalized in the 1990s.