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Criminal proceedings launched in Pskov Region into negligence in making documents adopting Maxim and Kirill Kuzmin

Pskov Region investigating bodies of the Russia’s Investigative Committee have launched a criminal case over negligence in making documents for adopting Kuzmin brothers by US citizens (part 1 of article 293 of the RF Criminal Code).

The decision was made based on the results of a procedural check which had revealed possible negligence during making documents for adopting brothers Maxim and Kirill Kuzmin. Namely social services did not submitted to court reviewing adoption of the children by US citizens full information about the boys’ biological relatives. Investigators during the check got information that the boys’ biological grandmother on the paternal side asked about their health and development and about opportunity to visit them in children’s home. Officials of Pskov Region Main State Directorate of Social Protection, regional guardianship authorities of Pechorsky and Gdovsky districts of Pskov Region and Regional Children’s Home knew this, but did not tell anything to the court.

In addition, investigators are going to qualify improper discharge of duties by officials of social services while making and checking the documents refusing custody to children’s relatives and while finding Russian citizens wanting to adopt the boys.

As a result of those actions of officials of social services the court could not in full study the circumstances of the case concerning providing rights of Kuzmin brothers to live in and be brought up by a Russian family, but based on the information it had, had to rule to give the children to be adopted by American parents.

At present investigators are going to carry out a number of investigating operations to find all the circumstances of the incident. Investigation is ongoing.