Russia to probe baby death in police custody
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 19 October 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia to probe baby death in police custody, 19 October 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56813c7815.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
October 19, 2015
Russia's child rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov has urged Russian authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a Tajik baby, who died after allegedly being separated from his parents in St Petersburg police custody.
Umarali Nazarov, the five-months-old son of a Tajik migrant family, died on October 14, a day after his parents were briefly detained for allegedly violating migration rules.
The parents say police officers separated the child from the couple upon their arrest and didn't return him when they were released five hours later.
The parents say police told them the child was sent to hospital with respiratory problems.They were given the child's body a day later.
The parents insist their child was healthy and didn't suffer from any illness.
Tajikistan has demanded Russian authorities to probe the incident, which has sparked angry protests by dozens of Tajiks in Moscow and outrage on social media.
Tajikistan's embassy in Moscow said Russia's Foreign Ministry has offered condolences to the family.
Russia hosts more than 1.2 million Tajik labor migrants, who leave Tajikistan due to a lack of jobs.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
