Members of Russian delegation not admitted to Gataevs' children in Lithuania

The Vilnius officials responsible for tutorship did not allow the consul of the Russian Federation, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Chechnya and the delegation that arrived with them to visit the children, whose guardian is Malik Gataev.

According to Oksana Chelysheva, a human rights defender and deputy head of the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society, the Russian consul has already expressed his dissatisfaction with the incident.

"This is an illegal decision of the authorities of Lithuania, since the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Chechnya has the authority of a temporary tutor," said Ms Chelysheva.

Six children aged 8-14, pupils of the foster children's home of Malik and Khadizhat Gataev, currently live in the social village (SOS-village) in Vilnius.

See earlier reports: "Chechen authorities intend to return Gataevs' children home", "Film about Gataev family and Chechen war to be presented at Amsterdam festival", "So far, Gataevs' children will stay in Lithuania".