A Russian father has given police an "unprecedented" reason for not paying child support or alimony — he needed the money for a sex change, Leningrad Region police said in a statement.
In this "unprecedented incident," the father had been on their wanted list for a number of years in connection with non-payment of child-support, the police statement said.
"He explained his failure to pay the debt as being due to physical incapacity in connection with 'illness and operations,'" the statement said.
Now known by the Russian female name Alyona, the suspect is currently believed to be living in the Moscow Region. Russian police also noted that, as soon as the paperwork has been altered to reflect the sex-change, Alyona will be served with notice to pay the money owed.
The story has been widely reported in the Russian media, with some local news sites claiming this is the first such case. Many reports have suggested the man chose to have the sex-change in order to avoid paying alimony and child support to his ex-wife, although the police statement provides no information to support this claim.
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.
