5-month-old baby from a St. Petersburg hospital was returned to Uzbekistan

A woman named M.T., from the Bukhara region, reported that she did not have the financial means to bring her 5-month-old baby back to Uzbekistan, despite the completion of the treatment process, and requested practical assistance in returning the child. This was reported by the Children's Ombudsman.

In her appeal, the woman explained that her husband, O.N., had to return to Uzbekistan on April 28 of this year due to the expiration of his stay in Russia. However, their 5-month-old daughter, M.Z., born on January 25, 2024, was left alone without parental care at a children's hospital in St. Petersburg. Although the girl’s treatment was complete, the woman could not afford to bring her child back to Uzbekistan.

It was reported that the child, born with very low weight and several heart conditions, had been under medical supervision at the St. Petersburg hospital since birth and had undergone heart surgery. According to hospital management, the parents had not paid for the child's treatment, procedures, or surgery for 8 months.

The Uzbek diaspora in St. Petersburg collected part of the funds needed to pay the hospital for the treatment, but raising the full amount took time. The issue was resolved when a major businessman from Uzbekistan covered the remaining expenses. The Children's Ombudsman then requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to take necessary measures for the baby’s return to Uzbekistan.

On September 1, M.Z. was among 14 children from St. Petersburg brought to Uzbekistan, accompanied by representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and doctors, and was handed over to her parents.

"The girl's family expresses deep gratitude to the businessman who provided crucial financial assistance for the girl's treatment and to all the responsible agencies involved in her return to Uzbekistan. The Health Department of Bukhara region and the regional department of the National Agency for Social Protection will now take measures to safeguard the child’s health and provide social assistance to the family," the report stated.

We remind you that earlier, 31 children left unattended in Russia were returned to Uzbekistan. Additionally, with the support of the Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Almaty, minors left unattended in Kazakhstan for various reasons were also returned.