[Alley80]

After many years of trying to help his wife, my friend just couldn't take it any more. She was controlling, always mad no matter what he did, called him names in front of the small children, told him to leave her if he didn't like it. She even locked him out of the house when he went out with friends, he had to wake his son and climb in through a window. But she refused to go to therapy. She stopped talking to her mother, had no more friends and slept much of the time. He left her and filed for divorce. She started taking the children to the hospital after their visits with him, and made multiple claims of abuse. The hospital wrote to the police about her strange behavior and thought she had Munchausen by Proxy, as the kids never had anything wrong with them. When the judge gave him sole custody of the children, she completely lost it and kidnapped them to Russia. Now they are isolated from friends and family. She refuses to let him talk to the children and has told them that he wants to put then into mental institutions if they go back to him. Total Parental Alienation.

How can you get through to a person like this that she needs help, that she is harming her children? She won't even talk to a mediator.

http://bringflorentinekidshome.wordp...ild-abduction/

[BarbSue]

Your friend desperately needs a good family law lawyer. Russia is a recent signatory to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child Abduction. Unfortunately, the process is complicated but with the right lawyer, the Russian authorities should eventually assist in returning the child to your friend. I am assuming he is in the US, Canada or one of the 80 some countries who are also signatories.

Feel terrible for you friend, but he needs to take action right away.

[Alley80]

Originally Posted by BarbSue

Your friend desperately needs a good family law lawyer. Russia is a recent signatory to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child Abduction. Unfortunately, the process is complicated but with the right lawyer, the Russian authorities should eventually assist in returning the child to your friend. I am assuming he is in the US, Canada or one of the 80 some countries who are also signatories.

Feel terrible for you friend, but he needs to take action right away.

Thanks! He has several lawyers involved both in Italy and in Russia. (he is American though) The US is involved too. It's complicated with the Hague Convention, as the US and Italy have not yet accepted Russia's entering the convention, trust issues I guess. It will take some time to legally fight this out, but in the end I believe he will win and the kids come home. But it is terrible what she is doing to them in the mean time. Friends have also created a Facebook page and have written letters. We are all trying to get her to realize she is hurting the children, but she doesn't seem to care. They have missed one year of school already and have changed apartments over five times. It is so sad that a mother can lose herself in a war against her ex making the children the victims. It's frustrating knowing this and not being able to do anything about it!

[Trippin2.0]

This is so sad, those poor children, my heart goes out to them! I hope they get their lives back soon, this circus act the mother is running is anything but healthy.

[BarbSue]

I wonder if it might help to contact Dateline, "America's Most Wanted", unsolved mysteries - one of the bigger investigative journalism shows involved?
Russia's lack of cooperation is newsworthy, as is this sad story. I googled and see that her story has already spread world wide.

Seems like trying to appeal to the mother is futile - major mental health issues.

Hopefully they will be reunited soon.