Two months in detention
The Preobrazhensky Court in Moscow has ordered detention for two months for 47-year-old Yulia Loginova, a mother who raised 15 children, on charges that include trafficking of minors and related offences. The case follows a report posted on the Telegram channel Attention, Moscow. Loginova is alleged to have obtained children for charitable purposes under false pretences.
Loginova is expected to remain in pre-trial detention until December 16. She was detained a few days ago on suspicions of human trafficking and document forgery. Preliminary information indicates she posed as the biological mother of five children who turned out to be her stepchildren. The remaining ten children are reported to have been adopted.
The Moscow prosecutor’s office released information about another person involved in the case. According to the SHOT Telegram channel, the individual is a 30-year-old surrogate mother from Uzbekistan named Firuza. She was identified during the inquiry into Loginova and has been detained.
According to the prosecutor, Firuza gave birth to two children, a girl in 2015 and a boy in 2016. It is claimed that she handed over these children to an accomplice, after which Loginova registered them as born to a surrogate mother using forged documents.
The Moscow prosecutor’s office also reported that a mother with multiple children recently drew the attention of investigators after doctors detected a drug in the blood of her eight-year-old son, a medication not approved for his diagnosed condition. The ministry did not specify the nature of the child’s illness. The boy told investigators that his mother forced him to take the medication regularly. A lawsuit was subsequently filed against the mother for alleged harm to her child’s health.
Documents submitted by the woman indicate she has two children born in 2015 and additional children born in 2016, 2018, and 2019, who are described as relatives. It is claimed that three children were born via surrogacy, including a boy born in 2018 and a girl in 2019, with the birth taking place outside Moscow. Prosecutors say she attempted to register these two children with civil registration using false documents. The ministry further disclosed that the woman underwent surgery in 2010 that involved the removal of her uterus, which left her unable to bear children through natural means.
The total amount paid to obtain the children has not been disclosed. The records show the woman was married twice, with the first marriage ending in a long-ago divorce and the second marriage ending with the husband’s death by drowning.
Alleged child-purchase scheme
SHOT reports that Loginova purchased a boy in 2018 and a girl in 2019. Police are now seeking the mothers of these children, with the Telegram channel suggesting their names may be Marina and Zukhra. In a separate development, a 44-year-old woman who runs a shelter for mothers facing difficult circumstances has also been detained. Her name is Natalya Patoka, and she is said to be the parent of 15 children. Both Loginova and Patoka are cited under the Russian Criminal Code provisions covering trafficking in persons.
Earlier investigations indicated that pregnant women who later placed their newborns with Patoka’s facility sought help there. The two women allegedly orchestrated a scheme where after birth, Patoka handed the babies to Loginova, who then registered them with a local registry office. SHOT investigations also revealed that the children were living with their grandparents at the time; grandparents reportedly doubt the version that the children were bought and note they cannot explain how the children appeared in the family when no pregnancy occurred radar-like in the background of the case.
The investigation continues with investigators reviewing the network of relationships surrounding the children, as well as the roles of various parties involved. The case underlines ongoing concerns in the region about surrogate arrangements, forged documents, and the illegal traffic in minors. The authorities emphasize that each allegation is being examined in detail, and the families affected are being approached with careful scrutiny to establish the truth of the events described. Sources linked to the case include the SHOT Telegram channel and official statements from the Moscow prosecutor’s office, which are being cited for context and ongoing updates. These developments illustrate the gravity of safeguarding measures for children and the importance of robust verification in surrogacy and adoption processes, particularly when forged documentation and improper custody arrangements are alleged, and they reflect the broader efforts within Russia to address exploitation and abuse in familial contexts.