The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is hearing a case that alleges ten Ukrainian children went missing after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. According to the court, the children, aged between one and five, were taken from childcare institutions and put up for adoption.
The families of the missing children, supported by human‑rights organisations, argue that the children were removed from state care and placed with Russian families. They claim the adoptions were carried out illegally and that the children have never been returned.
In its proceedings, the court will examine documents and witness testimony that detail the removal of the children from Ukrainian care facilities. The evidence presented points to a systematic effort to relocate the children to Russia.
Russia has denied the allegations, stating that the children were placed in foster care and that any adoptions were conducted in accordance with Ukrainian law. The Russian side maintains that the children were not taken against their will.
This case is part of a broader series of complaints the ECHR has received concerning the treatment of children in Crimea since the 2014 annexation. A ruling could set a precedent for how the rights of children are protected in conflict zones.
<small>Source: Al Jazeera — read the original story there.</small>
