A Pskov regional court on Monday will consider new evidence in the petition to annul the adoption of 2-year-old Kirill Kuzmin, the younger brother of the adopted Russian boy whose death sparked a new battle in the Russia-U.S. adoption war, Interfax reported.
The regional prosecutor and state social services submitted new evidence to annul the adoption of Kirill, who remains in the custody of his adoptive family in Texas, in February. The court deferred acceptance of their petition at that time, however, due to "insufficiencies" in the statement.
They were given until March 25 to file a new petition, Interfax reported Monday.
Last week, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on negligence charges over Maxim and Kirill's adoption from a Pskov region orphanage.
The decision came days after a Texas court decided not to press charges against the Shatto family and ruled that Maxim Kuzmin's death was an accident.
Maxim died on Jan. 21 in a Texas hospital of internal bleeding caused by blunt force trauma.
In the immediate aftermath of the boy's death, Pavel Astakhov, Russia's children rights ombudsman, said the boy had died as a result of a "savage beating" by his adoptive mother and demanded that 2-year old Kirill be returned to Russia.
Maxim and Kirill Kuzmin's biological mother, Yulia Kuzmina, appealed to social services in Pskov in February to help her restore custody over 2-year-old Kirill, or Kristopher Elvin Shatto, as he's now known in the U.S.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
