MOSCOW, February 13. /TASS/. Russia has handed over eight Ukrainian children through the mediation of Qatar, a TASS correspondent reports.
The families reunited at the Qatari Embassy in Moscow with the assistance of the country’s ambassador, Ahmed bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani, and a representative of the Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova.
Second Secretary of the Qatari Embassy, Abdulrahman Saleh Al-Kuwari, thanked the office of the Russian president's children's rights commissioner.
"We hope that these activities will continue, and we hope to further carry out this charitable work," the diplomat said.
"Thank you for all your help. We will continue our cooperation," he added.
Russian Presidential Children's Rights Ombudswoman Maria Lvova-Belova told reporters that eight children, aged 5 to 15, were on their way to their families in Ukraine. "Their stories are very diverse. Most of the children had been living with their grandmothers, but now they are heading to their mothers. One teenage boy is moving from his grandmother to his father. A brother and sister had been living in an orphanage after the death of their mother, but fortunately, their aunt, who lives in Ukraine, has taken custody of them; now the children have expressed their desire to live with her," the ombudswoman said.
She thanked Qatar for its active participation, saying that the country's representatives are involved in negotiations with Ukraine, accompanying the children, and covering transportation and other expenses. Lvova-Belova also expressed gratitude for the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross, regional children's ombudsmen, law enforcement agencies, representatives of relevant departments, and all those who contribute to the process.
"In total, we have already helped 15 children from 10 families reunite with their loved ones in Russia. Additionally, we have assisted 95 children from 75 families in reuniting with their families in Ukraine and other countries," she said.