Here is a translation of an article printed in Irkutsk on March 27. I searched for it because of the mention on the Irkutsk board about the article and how Americans adopt to steal the childrens organs. It is very long,and at times hard to understand because of the translation. It does mention "orphans for organs". The aticle focuses on how mediators are growing rich by selling us the children. The article also includes an interview with Olga before she was fired. Here is the link to original article: http://www.vsp.ru/show_article.php?id=39255
Of trade in orphans make profit both intermediaries, and officials
Around of a problem of adoption of children living in state shelters, some years passions boil. Many conversations that the preference at adoption of the Russian children-orphans is given foreigners go. And not for their beautiful eyes, and for good compensation. Thus the kids taken out abroad are not protected from the severe reference with them reception parents. Down to murders, sale of organs for the transplantation, sexual violence.
On the other hand, there are complaints to Office of Public Prosecutor and court which ostensibly brake process of the international adoption, repair to foreigners bureaucratic obstacles.
Questions and really arises much. What order of adoption of the Russian children foreigners? Whether Really thus revelry kriminala, trade in orphans is observed? Whether the rights of the child who has been taken out abroad are protected?
Where there's smoke there's fire
As it often happens, hearings about detoprodavtsah and a unfortunate share of the Russian orphans behind ocean though and strongly exaggerated, have arisen all not on an empty place. In press it was repeatedly informed, that for last ten years only in the USA from hands of reception parents fourteen children who have been taken out from Russia were lost. It has appeared one of victims two-year-old Vick Bazhenov, lived in the Irkutsk house of the child 1 after from it, the newborn, has refused native mother. In January, 2004 healthy, quiet on the character, the child not lagging behind almost in development was taken in the family by spouses Hilt from the USA. In one and a half year the girl has died in hospital of Northern Carolina from poboev, put by its new mum. 35-years Peggi Hilt, as she said, has deduced from itself crying of the child. Detoubijtsa has received 35 years of imprisonment. Approximately during same time by 12 years of imprisonment it has been sentenced by the American court Irma Pavlis, hammered up to death of the six-years adopted son Alyoshu Gejko who has been taken out from children's home in the city of Yeysk. Clean mummy could not bear, that the sick child was wetted in bed. Honey-experts have counted on its body of 32 damages. And those internal bodies that have remained the whole after severe poboev, have been withdrawn from a body of the boy for change to the patient. To 35 years of the conclusion it is sentenced by court of district Pennsylvania and the American millionaire Matthew Mankuso who adopted five years' Masha from Russia and has transformed its life in a nightmare. It within five years forced the girl every night, starved, that it looked is more younger, and, removing it on a porno, distributed a photo on the Internet. In the USA even the law which has received popularity as 'Masha's law' - about the responsibility for creation of nurseries pornosajtov has been published.
The mountain has given birth to the mouse?
At the international adoption appeared murderers and tyrants of reception parents punishes other state. However the State Office of Public Prosecutor of Russia has undertaken these business from other end: all circumstances of adoption of the lost kids have been checked up. And this time it is not formal. However, firstly public prosecutor's check of the Irkutsk center of adoption, the regional operator of a databank about children-orphans, has not revealed infringements of the legislation at definition Viki Bazhenovoj in the American family. Six married couples from Russia which have become interested was the girl, for the different reasons have refused to adopt it. As to spouses Hilt which has become, eventually, by its parents they in time sent reports and the photos testifying to how well is was sirotke behind ocean to Irkutsk.
Later however it was explained that with the adoption of two last victims of American philoprogenitiveness, vetch and the Ales, was shown the intermediary activity, forbidden Russian legislation. The discussion dealt with the illegal enterprise. In the essence - trade by children.
When materials for several years on the international adoption of orphans in Irkutsk were thoroughly studied, that checks rushed into the eyes too frequently flickered a surname of mediator - Elenas Novikovoj.
It represented interests of the foreigners in court, wishing to take in family detdomovtsev from Siberia, since 1998. First it is simple as the translator, and from 2002 - as the employee of foreign agencies on adoption. When one of them, Adoption Resource Center, Inc.., has been deprived by the Russian authorities of accreditation, Elena Novikova has concluded the similar contract with representation of the USA Crossroads Adoption Services .
Vicka Bazhenov has died in the USA from poboev the foster mother in July, 2005. And in August of the Municipal Department of Internal Affairs of Irkutsk area has excited concerning Elena Novikovoj the criminal case subsequently transferred in manufacture of investigatory management of Office of Public Prosecutor. One more figurant in business about intermediary activity on adoption of the Russian children-orphans by foreigners became Elena Novikovoj's roommate - ski trainer Jury Vasilev.
The investigatory group of Office of Public Prosecutor of the area, headed by the inspector on especially important issues Elena Lipunovoj, has done huge work. The criminal case ended by manufacture has made 37 volumes, and 6 of them - the bill of particulars. During investigation about legal aid inquiries have been sent to the USA and to France, is interrogated more than 200 witnesses, 20 judicial examinations (chemically- criminological, pocherkovedcheskikh, fonoskopicheskikh and computer- technical), are produced 23 searches and grooves, are looked around three thousand documents and objects. Investigation last one and a half year and was on the control of the State Office of Public Prosecutor of Russia.
As a result Elena Novikova has been released from criminal prosecution on amnesty, and Jury Vasilev a verdict of world court on December, 27th the last year has received punishment in the form of the penalty in five thousand roubles.
Actions of illegal and selfish intermediaries at adoption of the Russian orphans by foreigners have fallen under the sanction of item 137 ch. 1 UK the Russian Federation - Infringement of inviolability of a private life that is a crime of small weight.
However punishment of the criminals who have got off in general by an easy fright owing to notorious "holes" in the Russian criminal law, was not the main result of titanic work of investigatory group. Investigation had much more important purpose: it was required to open the reasons which have led to tragedies of the adopted orphans, to reveal the conditions generating a shameful practice of trade by made destitute children.
The worst fears have proved to be true: of trade in orphans make profit not only private persons - so-called intermediaries like Novikovoj and Vasileva. The priority of foreigners at adoption has appeared is favourable also to officials of bodies of trusteeship, formation and public health services.
Currency in pampers
Elena Novikova having experience of participation in processes on the international adoption, perfectly knew requirements to kids of candidates in reception parents. Real chances to get and to leave for family abroad children of 2-4 years, without heavy diseases have first of all, backlog in which development gives in to correction. They with Vasilevym also selected such babies for the clients. Their personal databank about orphans included the information on health, intellectual and physical development, conditions of a life and education, and also a photo and videoshooting. Criminals received these confidential informations in the center of adoption to which the state assigns a duty to protect interests and the rights of children who have remained without care of parents. The chief of a department of ìåäèêî-social support of the center Olga Savinov, had a kind feeling to a couple detoprodavtsev, allowed them to do copies from documents, questionnaires, the information stored private affairs. Having learned, in what children's home there live more developed and healthy kids, businessmen sent there - sometimes already under a kind of workers of the center of adoption: to make shootings, to collect the full information on children which can be sold favourably abroad. Spouses "were constantly grazed" in Irkutsk houses of the child 1, 2 and 3, shelehovskom children's home " Streamlet ", in houses of the child of Slyudyanka and Bratsk.
Trade in small orphans has appeared profitable business. Data on them missed at the price of 1500 euros for the future son or a daughter, correspondence selection of two brothers or sisters cost already 2500 euros. Service was complex. Novikova with Vasilevym gave arrived on appointment to children to foreigners at the same time and services of the translator and the driver - such "care" cost to clients 150 euros a day.
What official without "recoil"!
Consequence had been interrogated tens officials, heads and head physicians of orphaned establishments, experts on social work which ostensibly before excitation of criminal case did not know legal certificates about adoption. Though this legislative base operates any more one year, officials, in whose hands there is a decision of nurseries sudeb, did not read, it appears, the Family code of the Russian Federation, had no concept about powers of representatives of foreign agencies on adoption, did not know that the information on children entrusted to their cares is confidential.
How allocated by authority above small orphans adults executed the requirement of the law « to take exhaustive measures for the device of children in families of the Russian citizens »? Novikova and Vasilev could send all over again photos of children with good data to foreign clients, and then when those will choose to themselves dochek and little sons, the same pictures were placed in the newspaper "Business-section". The publication of photos of the kids already chosen for abroad, served in court as the proof, that officials ostensibly honesty tried to attach orphans in the Russian families, but anything at them from this has not left.
How many there is an assistance in such affairs of officials of state institutions, the assistant to the general public prosecutor of the Russian Federation Sergey Fridinsky has estimated after the country of check lead by scales. It has named the sum from 400 up to 9000 dollars.
And here the price of exclusive position of foreign adoptive fathers in the Irkutsk market of orphans. Bodies of consequence have withdrawn at Novikovoj and Vasileva the correspondence containing data that for each adopted child from the foreigner the charitable help (so-called donations) at a rate of not less thousand euro without fail was raised. However only the part of this sum acted in the children's home, the given shelter to the orphan, and other currency through the head of the center of ìpsychological-social support Olga Savinov left in central administrative board of the general and vocational training of area. (and it that houses of the child are generally establishments of public health services.)
"The situation which has developed in Irkutsk area when children adopted not Russian, but foreign citizens, arranged officials and the center of adoption, and central administrative board of the general and vocational training. The revealed infringements of the law not only promoted fulfilment of crimes, they still and discredit enforcement authorities "- to such conclusion the Office of Public Prosecutor which has directed representations to Minister of Education and a science of the Russian Federation A.Fursenko and the governor of Irkutsk area of A.Tishaninu has come.
The assistant to the public prosecutor of area, the senior adviser of justice Alla Nikonova who has signed these representations, has made the offer: " To solve the problem on conformity of a post of the head of a department of socially-legal support of the center of adoption of Olga Savinovoj".
The question is solved, probably, in favour of Savinovoj through which hands flowed in the necessary pockets of "donation" from happy fathers because of a cordon. It and today as in what happened, participates in processes of regional court on foreign adoption - all in the same quality of the defender of interests of orphans. Whether it is necessary after that to wait for changes in destiny of the made destitute children?
The court asks intermediaries to not worry
But what measures were accepted by high ranks of executive authority to provide besplatnost adoptions and to forbid intermediary activity, destiny of the concrete kids, lost parental care, will solve court. Since September, 2005, that is already after tragedy Viki Bazhenovoj, all business on the international adoption in Irkutsk regional court is considered by Olga STEPANOVA.
- Whether many children get now on education in families of foreigners?
- In 2005 it is considered such 49 affairs. Considering congestion of children's homes of area, it, certainly, is not a lot of. In the past to year it is accepted only six decisions on adoption by foreigners. Manufacture on the rests should be suspended because of investigation of criminal case concerning Novikovoj and Vasileva: from children's homes necessary documents in litigation have been withdrawn. Besides after public prosecutor's check many agencies on the foreign adoption, worked without licenses or not had the accredited representations in Russia, have noticeably lowered the activity.
Per 2005 in court as representatives of interests of foreigners could come the parlourmaid or the ski instructor, it is simple people from street which profited and at all did not pay thus of taxes. The same Vasilev, for example, has declared me, that services to foreigners on selection of orphans is easier its hobby...
- Hobby which is repaid in a foreign currency... And who now renders to foreigners intermediary services?
- Basically the lawyers familiar with the requirement of the legislation. I have sent the letter to embassy of France (from this country today most of all acts applications on adoption; for reception parents from the USA now it is a little candidates) also recommended to address for the help at submission of documents in court to lawyers. After that practically there were no problems with incorrectly issued papers, it is not necessary to return materials almost. So intermediaries-fans the court asks to not worry any more.
- You, as well as Office of Public Prosecutor, consider, what it is necessary to toughen the order of adoption of orphans foreigners?
- Simply enough to execute requirements of the law. At adoption it is necessary to proceed first of all from interests of the child. The kid should grow in good family is the main thing. The court at all does not interfere with departure of children-orphans abroad if the Russian citizens have refused to adopt them.
But, considering such business, I was convinced, that foreigners, really, contrary to the law, are in more exclusive position in comparison with the Russian candidates for reception parents. With our compatriots, wishing to take the orphan from children's home, work as the center of adoption is spent very formally. Frequently for them kids do not select, appointments do not arrange, and simply show the list, for example, on hundred children. Then the citizen writes refusal of adoption with transfer of hundred surnames and at all does not specify motive of refusal. And then still such paper bring in court as the proof, that the center of adoption took measures to the device of the child in family on the native land.
Bodies of trusteeship and children's homes even concern to search of blood relatives of orphans frequently formally. During judicial consideration the healthy, normally developed children, already prepared to foreigners, are transferred under trusteeship native to the grandmother with the grandfather, the uncle with the aunt. Last case was, when mother has left the child in a maternity home, and the rural administration has given out the information on structure of family under the request otkaznitsy forged: has not mentioned the grandfather of the newborn. That, having learned about the child, has demanded immediately to return it in native family. The court has born the decision about refusal to foreign adoptive fathers.
But if the child sends abroad, it is necessary to be convinced, that it will get in family where it will love. The history Vika Bazhenovoj should not repeat. Its foster mother as it was then found out, suffered a chronic alcoholism. Means, it is necessary to check more carefully documents of candidates in adoptive fathers. To watch, that foreigners passed physical examination in that order which is established by Ministry of Health of Russia. Our requirements in this plan are more severe, than in other states. Documents can and be forged. I already had to collide with falsification of translations. Probably, unfair translators take additional profit, rendering to the clients such services.
Except for the package of documents stipulated by the law, the court has the right to request still the additional information on the future parents. And I quite often use this right, though representatives and reproach after that court with meanness. But in such affairs there can not be trifles. The candidate for adoptive fathers from the another's country - for us a cat in a bag. We have no opportunity to interrogate members of its family, neighbours, employers to receive on it exhaustive characteristic. It is necessary to make a decision, as a matter of fact, on papers. And the court has no right to a mistake.
And, certainly, cases when the adoptive father is not acquainted with problems of the kid should be excluded. It should know a condition of its physical health, mentality in details that was then surprises...
- As in case of with murder suffered enuresis Alyoshi Gejko which foster mother has accused Russia that from it have hidden illness of the boy. Whether there are chances at children with seryoznymi diseases to find family in the country where it is possible to receive necessary medical aid?
- In my practice there was a case when childless spouses-foreigners have chosen the girl which mother was sick of a syphilis in a shelter. At malyshki there was a bad sight, seryoznoe backlog of mental development - down to imbetsilnosti. The Head physician of the house of the child even was afraid to agree on udocherenie vospitannitsy foreigners. But spouses have insisted. The girl they have chosen two more years back, have found to it the approach, had time to grow fond. They have thoroughly studied the case record of the child and have solved, that it will treat and look after. Such turn in destiny of the orphan can be welcomed only.
- Foreign adoptive fathers, probably, basically rich people?
- At those who to us addresses, incomes, as a rule, rather low for the Europe: from one up to two thousand euro a month. They give information on a place of work, a çàð-payment and other incomes, living conditions. The court is guided by a living wage in the country of adoptive fathers. We deal basically with simple people, sometimes elderly, having own adult children. Having concluded second marriage, they wish to have the general child. And on the native land at them orphans practically are not present. In France, for example, in turn on adoption it is necessary to stand years.
Certainly, I was interested: why they search for children in Russia, moreover and in Siberia? It appears, consider, that in our country above a level of culture, than in Bulgaria, Romania, Vietnam where too there are chances to take on education of the child. And foreigners choose Irkutsk because trust in strong Siberian health and unpretentiousness of local residents.
- You in fact do not see the child which destiny is solved in court. Whether any mechanism of the control for semyoj adoptive fathers is stipulated?
- Reception parents give the obligation, that within three years will report about adaptation of the child in family. To supervise them, the center of adoption should correspond. It does not enter into the competence of court.
And the responsibility, really, on court is assigned huge. Representatives of foreign adoptive fathers at times complain, that the judge is unduly captious. Well, I hope, this "captiousness", and is more true - carefulness at finding-out of all circumstances, concerning than the future family of the child, can protect it from misfortune.
we flew across the rainbow, 
