3-Month-Old Baby Removed From Mother In Loyeu

Homel civil rights defenders are ready to protect her.

In the Homel office of HRC Viasna Alesya Faminyh from Loyeu told her story happened to her in early August. She had appendicitis and her grandmother took care of recently born baby. After discharge from the hospital the woman found no child at home.

Lawyer Leanid Sudalenka examined the decision of the Loyeu District Executive Committee "On Removal of a Child from Custody, born 10.05.2018". Mother - Alesya Faminyh - cleans service rooms in the Loyeu district consumers society; father - Andrei Kouzik - misuses alcohol and is on file with the police. Parents are not married. The family has no income.

According to the woman, before the maternity leave she used to work as cleaner; she earned less than 220 rubles. And she did not manage to conduct water supply to her private house and to replace an old gas oven.

"My salary and the pension of my grandmother are our only income, officials demand us to conduct water and to replace old gas equipment," 34-year-old resident of Loyeu says.

She also adds that when the child was removed from custody, she has not been paid the maternity benefit. Officials from the child service want her to immediately find a job.

Head of Homel office of HRC Viasna Andrei Stryzhak says that the organization will render all the necessary assistance; a corresponding appeal is being developed to bring the child back to the family.

"We admit that the family is dysfunctional. Meanwhile, the mother of the child did not misuse alcohol, before the maternity leave she had at least a low-paid job. We can agree that the gas oven should be replaced. However, the requirement of a water supply is excessive, rural citizens keep using well water," Sudalenka added.

Civil rights defenders say that the removal can be the last resort, and the decision made by officials is subject to judicial check-up.