In Rostov Region, Jehovah's Witness states illegal interrogation of her minor children

As stated by Olga Petkevich, a resident of the village of Leninskiy, Matveyev-Kurgan District of Rostov Region, the principal of the village school and agents of the local ROVD (District Interior Division) questioned her minor children at home, when there were no parents. In her opinion, the reason for interrogation could be in the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, which she has started confessing recently. On the other hand, the inspector on minors' matters said that the check was organized, because the children often miss classes at school.

"On March 4 in the morning, three persons came to our home: the school principal Vera Belikova, a MIA employee, who did not introduce himself, but whom others called Ruslan, and a woman who said she was an inspector for minors' matters. None of the three introduced him/her, and presented no documents. The door was opened by her 13-year-old son, who said that his parents were not at home. The visitors ignored the children's request to take off their shoes and walked unceremoniously over the carpets," Olga Petkevich told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to her story, the children themselves told her about it. "The visitors immediately began asking about the religious beliefs of the family. When the elder daughter, who is 14 years old, said she has the right not to answer questions, the woman-inspector said: 'And I have the right to put you into the orphanage!'," Olga continued.

She added that then the inspector asked to show her the religious literature; she made a list and photographed the books. "The daughter was forced to sign some sort of explanation. We don't know what was written in it, but the daughter said that the religious literature was listed there. After more than an hour the visitors left," said Olga.

After the incident, Olga Petkevich visited the school principal and asked about the reason for the visit.

"She told me that the reason was exclusively in their concern about the welfare and progress of the children; as we have recently moved to this village; and my children often miss school. Yes, it is indeed so. My kids are often sick. I've already said that we had recently moved in, and were not ready for the winter in the countryside; therefore, everyone was ill. Besides, the school is about two kilometres away, and the weather was very bad. The school bus does not come here, as they say, that it is used only if the distance is more than two kilometres," Olga Petkevich was perplexed.

According to her story, she will consult the lawyers on how to challenge such behaviour of the officials in the best way.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent could not reach Vera Belikova, principal of the secondary school of the village of Leninskiy, by telephone.

Elena Rybalkina, inspector for minors' matters of the Matveyev-Kurgan ROVD, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that it was a routine check of children's well-being in the family.

"On that day I arrived in the village on business, and the principal told me about the newcomer family, whose children often miss school. Thus, we decided to see what the matter was. I want to note that we did not question but just interviewed the children. We went into the house by invitation of the children themselves. All this happened in the presence of a teacher, that is, the school principal, so we haven't violated the law," said Elena Rybalkina.

According to her story, only later the children's mother Olga Petkevich explained that the children were often sick. "The mother also said that her elder daughter missed lessons because she helped her to cope with the younger daughter. Henceforth, she promised not to do it," continued the inspector.

When asked whether there questions about the religion in the family, Ms Rybalkina replied that it was not the reason for the visit.

According to Irina Cherkasova, the Children's Ombudsperson in the Rostov Region, the officials had overstepped their powers. "In any case, the child's interests are protected and represented by his parents. If the issue was in the mother - this is a general violation of the law, because then it's interference with one's privacy," she told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to her story, under the law the procedure of preventive measures does not regulate the process of interviewing children. "If the preventive measures were the point, then, a teacher or the principal could have come independently and ask the children where their parents were, and why the children missed school. The juvenile inspector has absolutely different authorities," said Irina Cherkasova.

She noted that usually law enforcers work within the domain of offences. "If it was an inspection made in the families, where there are problems or danger for children, then, of course, the presence of the legal representative of the child is a must. I believe that in any case the officials had exceeded their powers. After all, they could inflict a psychological trauma to children with their questions," said Irina Cherkasova.

She also expressed her readiness to help to clear out the situation.