Missing Belarus girl is Russian and found
The Italian media disseminated reports on June 24 that a 15-year-old Belarusian orphan went missing at the south of the country.
On June 22 she told her foster parents that she was going out with her friends and did not return back home. The European Radio for Belarus called Belarus ambassador to Italy Aliaksej Shrypko who said that the girl had been found.
“We contacted the police and Italian charities that traditionally host our children. We also approached the Italian government agencies that are responsible for recreation of our children in Italy. We learned that the missing girl was from the Russian town of Kaluga and that she was 15. On Monday at about 1800 Minsk time the girl was found,” Belarus ambassador said.
According to Ambassador Skrypko, the major group of orphans from Belarus has not yet arrived in Italy. However, there are presently 3000-4000 of Belarusian children on holidays in Italy.
“We checked the situation with the Belarusian children who are currently on a recreation visit in Italy. Everything is in order. There is no reason to worry,” he said.
Italy and Belarus on May 19 signed an agreement on adoption of children that stipulates children’s legal status during their recreation visits. Belarus suspended recreation trips by children after a scandal over Vika Maroz, an orphan from Vilejka. Her Italian hosts held the girl and refused to return her home. The long-awaited new agreement resumed recreation programs and adoptions of orphans from Belarus.
