EU searches for kidnapped toddler
Published: 22 March, 2009, 13:53
AFP Photo / Anne-Christine Poujoulat
European Union police are searching for a 3-year-old girl, allegedly kidnapped by a Russian woman from her French ex-husband.
French citizen Jean-Michel Andre told the police that on March 20th, two men and a woman kidnapped his 3-year-old daughter Eliza (Russian Liza) while they were on their way home from school in Arles, south France, AFP reports. The kidnappers hit the father, took the girl and escaped in a car. Jean-Michel Andre recognized the woman as his ex-wife.
Hundreds of French policemen are searching for the girl now. The information has also been spread to law-enforcement authorities all across the European Union.
On Saturday, March 21st the police found the vehicle, rented for the affair. The same day it emerged that two men and a woman together with a child, all matching the description of the kidnappers, boarded a plane at a Swiss airport heading for Moscow. But Andre didn’t recognize Liza on the passport picture, provided by the Swiss authorities.
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The French police won't reveal the name of Liza’s mother but Russian RIA Novosti news agency reports, that is Russian citizen Irina Belenkaya. After her divorce from Jean-Michel Andre, in 2007, a French court ruled that Liza stayed with her father. But shortly after Irina Belenkaya took her daughter to Russia, where she got parental rights. In 2008 Andre came to Russia and took Liza back to France. Irina Belenkaya filed a lawsuit against her ex-husband.
The Frenchman says he will be arrested if he travels to Russia but he will do everything he can to get his daughter back.
Russian law-enforcement services say they are ready to launch search for the missing girl if France requests it. And if the girl is found in Russia, it will be immediately reported to the French authorities.
French prosecutors say that Liza’s abduction by her Russian mother is only one of the theories being considered.
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This is an other sad story, consequently tied to the strange franco-russian relations. Many young girls, all over the World become the victimes of western propaganda because the capitalist way of life is, supposantly, so good. For many frenchmen, marrying a beautifull russian girl is like getting a trophy from the kenyan jungle. It may start well but soon the young wife understand the realities of living in the West, far from her family and friends in a very selfish society with practically no more culture of her own. When there is no child, usually the lady run away; but when children are involved; it is an other story, because administrations of both countries complicate the situation. I have known of many cases because I have a particular affection for Russia and specifically the city of Orenburg. I have been there, since 1997, eleven times as guess of a sports' school, an university and a lady-friend. We are older peoples and if we, in the futur, get married, I shall stay in Russia. When helping russian teachers of french language, I had meet more pretty girls than any man can wish. None of them asked to come to France and if they will have inquired I will have frankly explained what to expect of such a move. If Russia will open its borders and let europeans see the truth, those situations will not exist. Naturally the other countries must do the same. Why a venezuelian will soon be able to visit Russia without a visa and a frenchman, not being autorized to do the same. In the 21st century, this looks rather funny and stupid. Sincerely. Jean-Claude Meslin Tel: +33450240275