Investigation reveals adoption of Ukrainian child by political ally of Vladimir Putin
A recent investigation by BBC’s Panorama has uncovered documents suggesting that a key political ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin has adopted a child who was seized from a Ukrainian children’s home. Sergey Mironov, the leader of a Russian political party, is named on the adoption record of a two-year-old girl who was taken from the home in 2022. The child’s identity was changed in Russia, raising questions about the legality of the adoption. The investigation sheds light on the plight of Ukrainian children who have been taken by Russian forces since the start of the invasion in 2022.
The disappearance of Margarita and other missing children
Margarita, originally named Margarita, was one of 48 children who went missing from the Kherson Regional Children’s Home when Russian forces took control of the city. According to the Ukrainian government, approximately 20,000 children have been taken by Russian forces since the invasion began. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for President Putin and his Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for the alleged illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russian-controlled territory.
The involvement of Sergey Mironov
Sergey Mironov, a 70-year-old leader of a Russian political party, has been identified as the adoptive father of Margarita. The investigation uncovered adoption records that show Margarita’s name was changed to Marina Mironova after her adoption. Mironov, who has not responded to the specific allegations, is a key political ally of President Putin and has been sanctioned by several Western countries.
The mysterious adoption process
The investigation reveals a series of events that led to Margarita’s adoption by Mironov. A woman in a lilac dress, later identified as Inna Varlamova, visited Margarita at a children’s hospital in Kherson. Shortly after her visit, Margarita was discharged from the hospital and taken back to the children’s home. Weeks later, Russian MP Igor Kastyukevich arrived at the home and organized the deportation of the remaining children, including Margarita’s half-brother. Video footage showed the children being loaded onto buses and ambulances, supposedly for their safety in Crimea. Margarita was then taken on a midnight train to Moscow, where she was eventually adopted by Mironov and Varlamova.
Uncovering the truth
The investigation relied on the collaboration between BBC’s Panorama and Ukrainian human rights investigator Victoria Novikova. They were able to identify Inna Varlamova as the woman in lilac and traced her movements through train records. It was discovered that Varlamova had recently married Sergey Mironov, providing further evidence of their involvement in Margarita’s adoption. Adoption records obtained through anonymous Russian sources confirmed Margarita’s new identity as Marina Mironova.
The controversy surrounding Ukrainian adoptions
The investigation raises questions about the legality of Ukrainian adoptions by Russian individuals. The Geneva Convention prohibits the deportation of civilians in times of war, unless it is essential for security or military reasons and temporary. The convention also prohibits changing a child’s family status. President Putin’s decrees, which made it easier for Russians to adopt Ukrainian children, have been criticized for potentially facilitating the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children.
Conclusion:
The investigation into the adoption of Margarita by Sergey Mironov, a political ally of Vladimir Putin, sheds light on the larger issue of Ukrainian children being taken by Russian forces. The case highlights the challenges faced by Ukrainian families in locating and retrieving their missing children. The Russian government denies knowledge of Margarita’s case and disputes the number of Ukrainian children taken to Russia. As the search for the missing children continues, human rights investigator Victoria Novikova remains determined to bring Margarita back to Ukraine and raise awareness about her existence. The case underscores the need for international attention and action to address the plight of Ukrainian children affected by the ongoing conflict.
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