The Prosecutor General's Office of Georgia to send 10 Ukrainian children back to Ukraine
By Inga Kakulia
Friday, June 7
The Prosecutor General's Office of Georgia has announced a decision to transfer 10 Ukrainian children who were allegedly victims of trafficking back to Ukraine. According to the General Prosecutor's office, the Georgian side has received guarantees that if the children return to Ukraine, the relevant authorities of Ukraine will provide them with all appropriate conditions.
The children were expected to return to Ukraine yesterday, on June 6.
"Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Georgia and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs met with Representative of Ukrainian President on the Rights of Children and the Ambassador of Ukraine in Georgia. The Ukrainian side demanded the release of ten children in Georgia regarding the criminal case of Yulia Sussliak and expressed the readiness of the relevant authorities of Ukraine to take care of the children and provide them with all appropriate conditions. After receiving these guarantees, the Georgian side, guided by the best interest of the children, decided to transfer the children to the Ukrainian side," said the General Prosecutor's Office.
Yulia Sussliak was detained in a hospital in Kutaisi on April 25 of the current year. She is accused of attempted human trafficking. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Yulia Sussliak arrived in Russia along with 10 young children on April 8, 2019, and intended to move into the occupied territories of Abkhazia. According to the documents, 10 children are children of Yulia Sussliak and bear her name, but 4 of the children were born in 2017, which led to suspicions about trafficking.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Julia Sussliak moved from Ukraine to Russia with 11 children and brought 10 children to Georgia. The investigation is underway for trafficking of two or more juveniles.
The offense envisages imprisonment from 14 to 17 years.
