Ukraine says Sir Elton cannot adopt toddler

Published on Monday 14 September 2009 21:59

SIR Elton John's hopes of adopting a Ukrainian tot have been thrown into doubt after a government minister said the country's laws would not allow it.

The singer announced on Saturday that he wanted to adopt a 14-month-old boy, Lev, whom he said had "stolen his heart".

But Ukraine's family minister Yuriy Pavlenko said the adoption was impossible as Sir Elton is too old and is not married.

Adoptive parents must be married under Ukrainian rules, and although Sir Elton and his partner David Furnish have been joined in a civil ceremony, the former Soviet republic does not recognise same-sex unions.

The law also states adoptive parents should be no more than 45 years older than the child, making Sir Elton, 62, too old.

Sir Elton met Lev, who is HIV positive, at an orphanage for children whose parents died from Aids. His spokesman today said he had no comment to make on the news from Ukraine.