Have you been following this case from Italy about the Belarus foster child? The Italian foster parents refused to return the child amidst abuse charges in the Belarus orphanage.


They wanted to adopt, but caused an 'incident' instead.

Now it seems we are getting closer to resolution:

(ANSA) - Minsk, October 2 - An Italian couple who concealed a Belarussian orphan girl in a bid to prevent her being sent back home might still be able to adopt her, Belarus said on Monday .

A week ago the couple was hiding the child, but apparently the Italian government, fearing an international incident and the closure of Belarus adoptions, did an all out search to find the young foster girl.

After a three-week search, police found her last Wednesday at the convent in Saint Oyen near the Swiss border in the company of her foster grandparents .

She was flown back to Belarus on Friday.

The Giustos and their parents now face kidnapping charges and I’m not supprised they are charging the foster parents with kidnapping, but I’m sorry about it.

At first glance, it appears the girl will be able to heal and move forward with her ife as she is getting counseling.

Meanwhile, Radkov said Moroz was well and receiving psychological assistance at a "rehabilitation centre" .

But then you read:

But he said that once the treatment was finished, she would be sent back to her old orphanage

Huh? Can't they put her somewhere else? She was clearly distraught with her life at that orphanage and threatned suicide if she was sent back.

Radkov said two Italian doctors who had accompanied Moroz back to Belarus would be allowed to assess the conditions inside local orphanages .

"They will be able to see for themselves that the children are offered decent living conditions," he said .

Let's hope that is enough...

Still there is always another side:

On Sunday, the head of Moroz's orphanage, Nikolai Volchkov, accused the Giustos of "lying" about the alleged abuse.

He claimed that the Giustos had had "plenty of opportunities" to adopt Moroz but had failed to file a request to do so.

Seems everyone is unhappy with the outcome, except the Belarus authorities who say:

He stressed that the Giustos would have to follow proper legal procedures in their request to adopt Moroz .

"If we receive a request, then we will examine it in accordance with the law," he said.

Hummm... Adoption while an international kidnapping charges are pending. I don't think so.

And of course, other waiting Italian adoptive parents had reason to worry.

They stressed that some 30,000 Belarussian children were allowed to visit Italy every year and that some 600 adoption applications were currently being processed.

"The Giustos have behaved selfishly, not generously .

They didn't take into account the serious consequences of their actions, which have damaged not only Vika but lots of other children, many of them orphans with major health problems," the association representing the families said .

None of this will effect USA adoption of Belarus children though. All US adoptions have been suspended pending legislation.


I'll keep you posted.

Link to story