Russia’s children’s ombudsman, Maria Lvova-Belova, said she did not know which cases of “unlawful deportation” of Ukrainian children referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC). About this Lvova-Belova writing in your telegram channel.
“The argument used in the public domain is abstract: it does not contain names, surnames, addresses, respectively, we cannot verify it in any way,” noted the Commissioner for Children’s Rights.
According to her, the ICC representatives did not request any materials and documents from the ombudsman’s office.
Later, during a briefing in Yekaterinburg, Lvova-Belova said the ICC charges had “no concrete basis”. According to her, Russia has not received “a single request that would confirm that the children are separated from their parents” or that a child “has been deported, forcibly taken to the territory of Russia”.
“If we have such cases, we will of course look into them and do everything in the interest of every child,” estimate Lvov-Belov TASS.
She also said that the Russian side “will do everything” to reunite separated parents and other blood relatives. As an example, Lvova-Belova cited the reunion of five children with their mother, who “ended up in different camps”. According to the Ombudsman, “now we are actively leading this family”.
The Ombudsman also mentioned the transfer to Russia and the adoption of 380 children from annexed territories. Lvova-Belova assured that these children have been living in social institutions for a long time and have no close relatives.
On March 17, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for their alleged involvement in the “unlawful deportation” of Ukrainian children to Russia. The Ombudsman said the international community thus appreciated her work “to help children”.
Russia does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC. The Russian President’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov described as “insignificant” the issuance of an arrest warrant against the head of state.
What is known about the export of children from Ukraine, RTVI said here.
