30/11/2023 17:06

Adoption of a Ukrainian child by Russian citizens: for the first time a case with a change of name and surname is recorded!

Recently, the media reported that the head of a Russian party, Sergey Mironov, and his wife, Inna Varlamova, "adopted" a child who was taken from Ukraine! Media reports say that 10-month-old Margarita Prokopenko was in an orphanage in Kherson during the Russian army's occupation of the city. From there, she was taken to Russia, allegedly for "medical examinations and rehabilitation." Media reports say that later the girl's name and citizenship were changed! Margarita became "Marina Mironova"! It is also known that a two-year-old boy, Ilya Vashchenko, was probably taken together with the girl. His fate is currently unknown.

The guardian of Margarita's sister addressed to me as the Ombudsman of Ukraine. The woman asked for assistance in establishing Margarita's whereabouts and formalizing her guardianship. It should be noted that Margarita has a six-year-old sister and a three-year-old brother. The six-year-old sister lives with a guardian, but the fate of Margarita's brother is unknown. He, like the girl, was in Kherson. That is, the siblings were separated by the Russians.

Adoption of Ukrainian children in the Russian Federation is illegal. According to international and national norms, foreigners must notify Ukraine and obtain its consent before they can adopt a Ukrainian child. However, Russia is trying to get around this and forcibly grants Ukrainian children Russian citizenship. This is also a crime! Let me remind you once again: the forced transfer of children from one ethnic group to another is genocide!

Thus, at least this is already the basis for the next warrants! The international community must respond to the war crime of the Russians and help return the children abducted by Russia!

In this particular case, I will appeal to our partners and international organizations to:

1. They condemn the actions of the forced removal and adoption of a Ukrainian child and recognize it as a crime of genocide!

2. Facilitate the return of Ukrainian children home!

Silence and inaction in response to each such crime provokes even more crimes in the future!