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Max Shatto Russia-US adoption death ruled an accident Max Shatto Russia-US adoption death ruled an accident
(about 9 hours later)
The death in Texas of an adopted three-year-old Russian boy has been ruled an accident, reports quoting US officials say amid ongoing tensions over the case between the US and Moscow. The death of an adopted three-year-old Russian boy in Texas has been ruled an accident, amid ongoing tensions over the case between the US and Moscow.
Max Shatto died accidentally after he hit himself and tore an artery, media citing a coroner's report said. Max Shatto, adopted from a Russian orphanage, died on 21 January.
The child died in January. He was adopted from a Russian orphanage. A senior Russian official sparked controversy last month, alleging he had been murdered by his adoptive mother.
Russian parliamentarians have regularly used the death to justify a recent ban on adoptions to America. Four doctors concluded he had died accidentally from a torn artery in his abdomen and had bruises consistent with injuring himself, a statement said.
A senior Russian official, Pavel Astakhov, sparked controversy last month by alleging that the boy, born Maxim Kuzmin, was murdered by his adoptive parents. After reviewing the results of his post mortem examination, the doctors said the adoptive parents of Max Shatto, born Maksim Kuzmin, had done nothing wrong.
But four doctors who reviewed the autopsy results said the adoptive parents of Max Shatto had done nothing wrong, CBS 7 news reported. Russian parliamentarians have called for Max's brother to be returned to Russia, and have used the death to justify a ban on adoptions to America.
The medical examiner in Ector County, Texas said Max's death was not intentional, according to Sheriff Mark Donaldson and prosecutor Bobby Bland. The Kremlin's Children's Commissioner, Pavel Astakhov, had initially broken news of the death on Twitter, saying the child's adoptive mother had killed him.
But the medical examiner in Ector County, Texas, said Max's death was not intentional, according to Sheriff Mark Donaldson and District Attorney Bobby Bland.
Autopsy results showed that bruises on several parts of the boy's body were self-inflicted and it was reported that the child had a mental disorder which had caused him to hurt himself.Autopsy results showed that bruises on several parts of the boy's body were self-inflicted and it was reported that the child had a mental disorder which had caused him to hurt himself.
"I had four doctors agree that this is the result of an accident," Mr Bland said. "We have to take that as fact.""I had four doctors agree that this is the result of an accident," Mr Bland said. "We have to take that as fact."
However, the investigation over what happened is still continuing, officials added.However, the investigation over what happened is still continuing, officials added.
The prosecutor said that he would see whether to pursue charges such as negligent supervision or injury to a child by omission, after the full results of the investigation were available.The prosecutor said that he would see whether to pursue charges such as negligent supervision or injury to a child by omission, after the full results of the investigation were available.
The boy was reportedly found unresponsive outside the family home in Gardendale, Texas on 21 January. He had been adopted, along with his half-brother Kristopher, last autumn.The boy was reportedly found unresponsive outside the family home in Gardendale, Texas on 21 January. He had been adopted, along with his half-brother Kristopher, last autumn.
The Russian consul general in Houston, Alexander Zakharov, said he wanted to see the official report from authorities before commenting on the announcement.
The boy's death came just three weeks after the Russian parliament, the Duma, enacted legislation ending all adoptions of Russian orphans by Americans - a move criticised by the US and by the opposition in Moscow.The boy's death came just three weeks after the Russian parliament, the Duma, enacted legislation ending all adoptions of Russian orphans by Americans - a move criticised by the US and by the opposition in Moscow.
The adoption ban has been viewed as retaliation for a law passed in the US that would stop Russian officials suspected of human right violations from coming to the US.The adoption ban has been viewed as retaliation for a law passed in the US that would stop Russian officials suspected of human right violations from coming to the US.
Russian authorities have said they are pursuing their own investigation into the death.Russian authorities have said they are pursuing their own investigation into the death.