What's happened
Russian politician Sergey Mironov is accused of adopting a baby girl from occupied Ukraine and changing her identity and citizenship.
Why it matters
The alleged adoption by a Russian politician of a child from occupied Ukraine raises concerns of war crimes and genocide. It highlights the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the impact on innocent civilians.
What the papers say
Metro says that Sergey Mironov, a top political ally of Vladimir Putin, is accused of adopting a baby girl from occupied Ukraine. AP News reports that Mironov denies the allegations and claims they are a 'fake' report to discredit Russian patriots. The Moscow Times provides adoption records and a birth record showing the child's name change and adoption by Mironov and his wife. Al Jazeera reports that the adoption of Ukrainian children by Russia is considered a war crime by the International Criminal Court. The Independent and AP News confirm the return of an orphaned Ukrainian teenager from Russia with the help of UN and Qatari mediation.
How we got here
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has led to the alleged adoption of Ukrainian children by Russian individuals. The International Criminal Court has accused Russia of war crimes in relation to the deportation of children from Ukraine. The return of an orphaned Ukrainian teenager from Russia highlights the ongoing issue of children being taken from occupied regions.
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