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| Moscow acted correctly in moving Ukrainian children – Russian leader | Moscow acted correctly in moving Ukrainian children – Russian leader |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The minors were evacuated from the combat zone, Vladimir Putin said | The minors were evacuated from the combat zone, Vladimir Putin said |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin has defended the policy of moving Ukrainian children from areas hit by the fighting to Russia. He rejected accusations that the practice was illegal. | |
| “We were moving them out of the conflict zone, saving their lives – this is what’s been happening,” Putin said on Saturday during a meeting with a group of African leaders in St. Petersburg. He added that “nobody intended to separate the children from their families.” | “We were moving them out of the conflict zone, saving their lives – this is what’s been happening,” Putin said on Saturday during a meeting with a group of African leaders in St. Petersburg. He added that “nobody intended to separate the children from their families.” |
| “We evacuated entire orphanages, and did so absolutely legally because the heads of these orphanages were their [legal] representatives,” Putin said. | “We evacuated entire orphanages, and did so absolutely legally because the heads of these orphanages were their [legal] representatives,” Putin said. |
| “We were never against the children reuniting with their families, if, of course, their relatives were to show up. There were no obstacles, and, naturally, there will not be any. I can assure you of that.” | |
| In March, the International Criminal Court (IOC) issued arrest warrants for Putin and Russia’s Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova on charges of “unlawful deportation and transfer” of children from Ukraine. Russia is not a party to the IOC’s Rome Statute and, therefore, does not recognize the jurisdiction of The Hague-based court. | |
| Lvova-Belova said in April that many children were placed in Russian summer camps and resorts at the request of their families. “They were moved voluntarily because their parents asked for a safe space where [the children] could continue their education,” the official said. She added that, despite some delays, the minors were regularly reunited with their relatives when they came to pick them up. | Lvova-Belova said in April that many children were placed in Russian summer camps and resorts at the request of their families. “They were moved voluntarily because their parents asked for a safe space where [the children] could continue their education,” the official said. She added that, despite some delays, the minors were regularly reunited with their relatives when they came to pick them up. |