The issue focused on Russia's adoption ban on gay couples and adoption agencies and whether there were grounds for suspicion that Russia had violated international human rights treaties that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Russia responded by accusing the Council of hypocrisy for criticizing Russia while ignoring China's adoption ban on lesbian couples and adoption agencies. Russia claimed that China had banned adoption by lesbian couples but allowed adoption by heterosexual couples. Russia stated that China had banned adoption by heterosexual couples but allowed adoption by lesbian couples and lesbian adoption agencies. Russia