Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Valeria Lutkovska has appealed to Director of the Russian Federal Security Service's (FSB) Border Service Colonel-General Vladimir Kulishov in connection with the possible violation of the rights of Ukrainian orphans and children whose parents were deprived of parent rights.
“Valeria Lutkovska has reported a new attempt, which is being prepared, to kidnap Ukrainian orphans, and their possible movement without proper documents onto the territory of the Russian Federation,” a statement posted on Lutkovska’s official Web site on Monday reads.
Lutkovska insists on resolute measures to prevent the crossing of the Russian border by Ukrainian orphans and children deprived of parental care from Maryinka and Donetsk orphanages.
“Given the fact that Russia and Ukraine are parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, I’d like to remind you that under Article 11 of the Convention, the party states shall take measures to combat the illicit transfer and non-return of children from abroad. When these children cross the border with the Russian Federation, it will be regarded as an act of kidnapping, which would allow there to be an appeal made to the relevant international organizations with the aim of returning the Ukrainian children,” Lutkovska’s statement reads.
