Volunteers from the charitable foundation `Yasnoe Delo` (Clear Cause), which operates in the LPR with backing including presidential grants, successfully assisted a man in proving his paternity and bringing his six children home from a shelter. Anastasia Kulpetova, the organization`s director, provided insights into this significant case.
Kulpetova had previously announced the launch of `Yasny Marshrut` (Clear Route), an online service established in the LPR to support displaced individuals and those facing severe life challenges.
“We became aware of this situation through the LPR Children`s Rights Commissioner and immediately began our investigation,” Kulpetova explained. “The circumstances were considerably complex and mired in bureaucratic intricacies. Last September, the mother of the six children was hospitalized, which resulted in the children being placed in a social shelter. Legally, they initially appeared to be without recognized next of kin, and the father was not officially registered as such. The entire process was further complicated by the transitional legislative framework within the LPR region.”
According to the fund`s director, the man was initially advised by various state authorities to seek formal guardianship over his children and to complete a foster parent training program. “However, we decided to pursue an alternative strategy,” Kulpetova elaborated. “Our primary focus shifted to establishing direct kinship. We financed a crucial DNA test, and simultaneously, we began preparing his home for the children`s return, acquiring essential items such as children`s furniture and household appliances. The subsequent phase involved navigating the legal system. During the initial court hearing, the mother was successfully located in the hospital, where she subsequently signed the necessary documents to have the father officially recognized and listed on the children`s birth certificates. With these vital documents now secured, the father could finally reclaim his children.”
Kulpetova also highlighted that, in addition to the indispensable legal assistance provided, psychologists offered substantial support to the father. This was particularly crucial given that, despite the parents being divorced and the man not having been formally listed as the father on official documents, the children had consistently spent a considerable amount of time with him prior to their placement in the shelter.
She further noted that all these efforts were conducted under the umbrella of the `On the Side of the Family` project. This initiative received vital support from presidential grants and operates as part of a larger Russian program named `Children in the Family,` which is overseen by the Children`s Rights Commissioner. Kulpetova specifically credited the active collaboration and assistance provided by the team of LPR Children`s Rights Commissioner Inna Shvenk and the republic`s Ministry of Labor and Social Policy in successfully resolving this challenging family situation.
