So far, Gataevs' children will stay in Lithuania

Six children-pupils, aged 8-14, of the foster home of Malik and Khadizhat Gataev, who currently live in a social village (the so-called "SOS-village") in Vilnius, Lithuania, will remain in the institution for an indefinite period.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Danius Mezhis, director of the children's SOS-village in Lithuania, that in early November the trial on deprivation of Malik Gataev of his guardian's rights in relation to five girls and one boy was suspended.

Earlier Gataev complained that the village managers did not allow him to speak on the phone with the children in their native Chechen language. He argues that the village director is switching the speakerphone and insists that they speak Russian.

Mr Mezhis explained at a meeting with human rights defenders and journalists in the SOS-village that had to resort to such restrictions only because he wanted to protect children from negative influence and psychological stresses, "which are very difficult to heal."

"We know that Malik Gataev, when speaking the Chechen language, persuaded the children not to listen to their teachers, instead of talking about traditions and national holidays, as it had been initially agreed," said Mezhis.

However, human rights defender Oksana Chelysheva, who was present at the meeting, said that these words "were taken out of the context"; and that in fact Malik told the children: "Don't listen to those who say that we don't love you."

As to the children's studying the Chechen language, the village director expressed his readiness to facilitate this process and hire teachers who will teach the pupils.

Audrius Natkevitsius, head of the Lithuanian Association of SOS-Villages, says: "The children themselves told their independent teachers that they did not want to return to their former family. We didn't decide for the government whether to arrest the Gataevs; we don't take part in the litigation on guardianship deprivation, and don't give any recommendations to the court."

Currently, the six children live in a two-storey house with spacious rooms and everything necessary for living, learning, playing and leisure time. A village employee is all the time with them; and together with the children she leaves on vacations.

The leaders of the SOS-village, who received a delegation of journalists and human rights activists, organized their meeting with the children, during which the children were handed over the gifts from Malik and Khadizhat Gataevs.