TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan 8, 2014) - Today three Ontario couples sent an open letter to Prime Minister Harper appealing for his personal assistance to bring their adopted Russian babies home to Canada.

All three couples were in the final stages of the adoption process, having been approved by both countries and having bonded with their children, when Russia unofficially halted all adoptions to Canada with no explanation.

On July 3rd, the Russian government passed a law banning international adoptions to same sex couples and single people. But the Canadian couples were assured that the law wouldn't impact them because they were considered 'traditional couples' within Russia.

After that date, Russian officials continued with paperwork, allowed in-person visits to bond with the kids and even set court dates to transfer custody. They let these families believe for months that they would be allowed to adopt, parent and love these children.

"The day we went to court for custody of our adopted son, Dylan, the judge informed us that he had received a memo from the Supreme Court of Russia stating that, even though everything was in order according to Russian law, he was advised not to release Dylan into our care. We were devastated," says Kelly Fox of Oakville Ontario.

The three couples are currently in limbo and working closely with Canadian Foreign Affairs to determine if they can complete the adoptions, but Russia steadfastly refuses to answer.

As a result, they are appealing to Prime Minister Harper to personally intervene on humanitarian grounds.

"The Canadian government has advocated tirelessly for us," Kelly says. "But Russia has refused to acknowledge Canada's diplomatic efforts over the past three months. Meanwhile our children wait in orphanages. We're asking Prime Minister Harper to personally ask President Putin to complete those adoptions in the final stages. There are only five in Canada and it's the humanitarian thing to do."

A copy of the open letter is available at http://bringourkidshome.com

For more information on the plight of these three couples or to set up an interview, please contact Kim McLaughlin at 647-238-0562 or kim@lyracommunications.com. More information, including backgrounders and pictures of the families, is available at http://bringourkidshome.com.