MOSCOW, December 3 - RAPSI. The Voronezh Region Court has refused to grant U.S. citizens the right to adopt a 1.5-year-old deaf boy because both of the applicants are also deaf, the Prosecutor General's Office has reported on Monday.

The office said the couple were refused, as they have been deaf since childhood.

Guardianship and custodianship agencies in the United States earlier approved their adoption request. After a medical examination in Russia, the conclusion was made that their deafness prevents them from adopting a child according to Russian law.

Pursuant to the Family Code, foster parents cannot have medical contra-indications.

The couple said they would arrange a hearing restoration operation for the boy when he grows up, if he so chose. However, according to the prosecutors, funds have already been allocated from the budget the prosecutor has objected to the adoption of a child by the U.S. couple and the court sided with the prosecutor's position.