The Children’s Commissioner noted that the work to reunite children with their families in Russia and Ukraine is being carried out at the instruction of President of Russia Vladimir Putin.
Two sisters, aged 12, were returned to Russia. Maria Lvova-Belova said that the girls had been temporarily living with their grandparents in Ukraine, while their mother worked in Russia and visited them regularly. However, after the special military operation began, the mother was unable to collect her daughters. The family turned to the Commissioner for help.
Eight children, aged between five and 15, have been reunited with their families in Ukraine. The children have diverse backgrounds: most of them lived with their grandmothers and are now going to live with their mothers, and one teenage boy is moving from his grandmother to his father. A brother and sister who previously lived in an orphanage after the death of their mother will be reunited with their aunt. The aunt, who lives in Ukraine, has taken custody of the children, and they have also expressed a desire to live with her.
The Commissioner thanked Qatar for assisting in this process. Qatari representatives are involved in the talks with the Ukrainian side, accompany the children, and cover transportation costs and other expenses. Maria Lvova-Belova also expressed gratitude to the International Committee of the Red Cross, regional children’s commissioners, law enforcement agencies, and representatives of relevant organisations.
In total, 17 children from 11 families have been reunited with their relatives in Russia, and 95 children from 75 families were reunited with relatives in Ukraine and other countries with the assistance of the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights.
Assistance with family reunification can be requested by emailing obr@deti.gov.ru.