An orphaned Ukrainian teenager who was taken to Russia last year during the war in his country returned home after being reunited with relatives in Belarus on his 18th birthday Sunday.
Bohdan Yermokhin was pictured embracing family members in Minsk in photographs shared on social media by Russia’s children’s rights ombudswoman, Maria Lvova-Belova.
The practice prompted the International Criminal Court in March to accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin and children's rights ombudswoman Lvova-Belova of committing war crimes.
Lvova-Belova has argued that the children were taken to Russia for their safety, not abducted — a claim widely rejected by the international community.
Nevertheless, the children’s rights ombudswoman announced in a Nov. 10 online statement that Yermokhin would be allowed to return to Ukraine via a third country.
Persons:
Bohdan Yermokhin, Russia’s, Maria Lvova, Andrii Yermak, Yermokhin, Yermak, Yermokhin's, Kateryna Bobrovska, Bobrovska, Valeria Yermokhina, ”, Vladimir Putin, ombudswoman, Putin, Belova, —, Yerkmohin, Dmytro Lubinets, ” Lubinets
Organizations:
UNICEF, Qatari, Associated Press, Criminal Court
Locations:
Russia, Belarus, Minsk, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Mariupol, Moscow, The Hague, Netherlands, Russia’s, “ Ukraine