MOSCOW has weighed in on the case of a missing British three-year-old amid fears the child has been “kidnapped” by his Russian mother.
A pundit on the country’s state media said the kid is “Russian” and demanded the Kremlin “protect the mother’s right” to be with her child.
Oliver Pugh, who is believed to have been abducted by his Russian mother[/caption]
He has a British father and a Russian mother[/caption]
A view of Marbella in Spain where the boy was last seen[/caption]
Oliver Pugh has been the subject of a frantic police search since he went missing in Marbella, on the Costa del Sol.
He has a British father and a Russian mother, who are now separated.
The family lived in Spain, where are court order had barred the child from being removed from the country.
Spanish cops fear Oliver was taken to Russia – where he would be out of reach of the father.
Russian authorities have not officially commented on whether the child is in the country.
But state media propagandist Vladimir Kornilov said today on Telegram: “It is suspected that she took her son to Russia.
“This, of course, is not yet a fact.
“But if this is indeed the case, it seems to me that we must do everything possible to protect the mother’s right to be with her Russian child.
“Well, if London can call him British, why can’t I call him Russian by the same logic?”
He added: “How [do] you determine that the boy is British if his mother might think otherwise?”
Oliver is described as being 2ft 7in tall, with blond hair and distinctive grey eyes.
Spain‘s National Police are urging anyone with information to contact them.
A spokesperson said: “We are treating this as a parental abduction.
“We believe the mother has left Spain and has taken the boy to her homeland, which is Russia.”
Neither the mother or the father has been named.
The Foreign Office is “supporting the family of a British child who has been reported missing in Spain”.
Diplomats have been in contact with the Spanish authorities.
It is unclear whether the child has joint Russian citizenship, or whether an international arrest warrant has been issued for the mother.
Russia always refuses to extradite its own citizens.
Spain’s Ministry of Interior published a picture of Oliver shortly after his disappearance.
He is last believed to have been seen in Marbella on July 4.
Russian extradition to the West
RUSSIAN extradition laws prohibit the extradition of Russian citizens, as mandated by Article 61 of the Constitution.
This creates significant barriers for Western countries seeking extradition.
Extradition is only possible through international agreements or federal laws, but Russia does not extradite individuals for political crimes or non-criminal acts under its law.
Treaties like the European Convention on Extradition are limited by constitutional restrictions.
Russia and Western countries often lack extradition treaties, such as with the US and the UK.
Concerns over human rights and fair trials further complicate extradition efforts.
Western nations frequently reject Russian extradition requests, citing political motives and poor detention conditions.
This has led to strained relations and reduced cooperation in legal matters.
Extradition remains largely one-sided, with Russia rarely extraditing individuals to the West.
Meanwhile, Western countries are increasingly resistant to extraditing individuals to Russia.
