MOSCOW. March 24 (Interfax) - Thirty-three children from the Kherson, Zaporozhye and Kharkov regions, who were staying at holiday houses in Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory, have been reunited with their relatives in the past two weeks, Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova said.
"Over the past two weeks, another 33 children from the Kherson, Zaporozhye and Kharkov regions have been reunited with their relatives after staying at health centers in southern Russia. The children were collected by their parents or trusted persons. The family reunions took place with the active participation of volunteer groups who helped with communication and paying for transport costs," Lvova-Belova was quoted on her Telegram channel as saying.
There are still 56 children remaining in Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory, waiting to meet with their relatives, the ombudsman said.
"Since October 2022, the Russian authorities have consistently assisted in reuniting the children, who arrived on holiday, with their relatives regardless of their whereabouts, be it Ukraine, Russia or another country. More than 2,000 children from this group have now been returned to their families," Lvova-Belova said.
She said on March 10 that 89 Ukrainian children remained in Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory, who were moved from the zone of hostilities, with their parents' voluntary consent, to holiday in Russia late last summer and fall. Most of them have been reunited with their families, the rest are waiting to return to relatives who live in Russia, Ukraine or the European Union, the ombudsman said.
On March 20, she said that 15 children were reunited with their relatives from Ukraine.
On March 17, the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an order to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova. The decision was made as part of case into "unlawful deportation of population (children)" from parts of Ukraine under Russia's control to Russia, the court said.
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that the ICC's decision to issue these arrest warrants is outrageous and legally null, adding that Russia does not recognize this court's jurisdiction.