Finnish authorities’ decision to separate a Russian citizen, A. Zavgorodnyaya, from her four children
Written question
No.
619 to the Committee of Ministers
| Doc. 13056
| 10 October 2012
In September 2012, four children of
a Russian citizen, A. Zavgorodnyaya, – aged between one week and
six years old – were taken into State custody and put in a foster
home by the Finnish authorities.
An official notice received by Ms Zavgorodnyaya claimed that
she and her husband posed a danger to their children, and the reason
for the decision was that one of their children – Veronika – had
allegedly “been spanked by her father”.
Mr Pushkov,
To ask the Committee of Ministers:
- to clarify whether the above sanctions were justified
or whether they were excessive and disproportionate;
- to provide the Assembly with the Committee of Minister’s
opinion whether the above sanctions correspond to the obligations
and commitments of Finland with regard to its participation in international treaties
and conventions, particularly Council of Europe conventions, concerning
children’s rights protection;
- to request the opinion of the Council of Europe Commissioner
for Human Rights whether the above actions by the Finnish authorities
fall within the conclusions made in his report (CommDH(2012)27 of
26 September 2012) following his visit to Finland from 11 to 13
June 2012, where the Commissioner claims that “…, Russian speakers
appear to be the most likely victims of racism and xenophobia in
Finland”.
