A maternity hospital in the town of Kopeisk in Russia’s Chelyabinsk Region must pay 3 million rubles (about $100,000) in compensation to the parents of two girls who were accidentally swapped at birth 12 years ago, the local court ruled.
A maternity hospital in the town of Kopeisk in Russia’s Chelyabinsk Region must pay 3 million rubles (about $100,000) in compensation to the parents of two girls who were accidentally swapped at birth 12 years ago, the local court ruled. Photo, from right: Anna Iskanderova, her father Nimatullo Iskanderov, Irina Andrushchak, and her mother, Yulia Belyayeva.
The mistake was uncovered accidentally earlier this year, after Yulia Belyayeva filed for divorce but her ex-husband refused to pay child support, demanding that their daughter’s DNA be tested to establish paternity. The tests revealed that neither of them were biological parents of the 12-year-old girl. Photo: Anna Iskanderova, left, Irina Andrushchak, right, and Irina’s mother, Yulia Belyayeva.
With the assistance of police and the maternity hospital, the Belyayevs managed to find their biological daughter, Anna, who was living with the Iskanderov family. Genetic testing proved that the Belyayevs were raising the Iskanderovs’ biological daughter.
The families of the two 12-year-olds see each other often and are trying to find a way to move closer. Photo: Anna Iskanderova, her father Nimatullo Iskanderov, and Irina Andrushchak.
Cultural differences remain the main issue for the parents as the Russian girl was raised in a Muslim household, while the Tajik girl was brought up in accordance with European traditions. Photo: Irina Andrushchak and her mother, Yulia Belyayeva.
