Police in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg have arrested a woman who tried to sell her baby daughter to cover her personal debts.

Over a week ago community police received information that a woman was trying to sell her baby. As a result of a sting operation 44-year-old Uzbekistan native Khati Chahon Parpieva was apprehended as she signed over her daughter to undercover police.

“In conjunction with the Criminal investigation unit, we detained a woman, who tried to sell for 20,000 roubles her own three-month-old daughter. We are currently checking whether or not the suspect has been involved in similar cases in other parts of the country,” Valery Gorelyh from Yekaterinburg Police said.

Her disabled husband has been deported, she hasn't a job, and by now she owed over a thousand dollars in back rent. The only way she thought she could cover it, was to sell the little girl.

“No, I didn't want to sell. I have debt. My husband is gone,” Khati Chahon Parpieva said.

Parpieva has two older children back in Uzbekistan – a young daughter, and a son, who is serving time in jail.

She will most likely be charged with selling a minor, and if convicted could spend up to ten years in jail.