Gujarat High Court asks FRRO to cross-check letter with Russian embassy

Acting on a petition filed by a Russian woman Anastasiia Leonskaia seeking a safe exit from India, the Gujarat High Court on Thursday directed the Foreign Registration Regional Office (FRRO) to check the authenticity and content of a letter written to Leonskaia by Ministry of Social Development, Custody and Guardianship in Russia. The court has asked the FRRO to cross check the same with the Russian Embassy and provide information to the court on the next hearing of the case on Monday.

According to the petitioner, the letter provides that the guardianship authorities of Irkutsk city may transfer the custody of her 7-year-old daughter Maitino Stefania to an orphanage, if she fails to contact them by February 20.

Notably, Leonskaia had cooked up stories about her overstay in India without any valid visa, but had to tender an apology when the Centre pointed out several loopholes in her claims, raising suspicion. She has now submitted that she wants to get back to her country or else her daughter, who used to stay in Russia with her aunt till the latter's death and then with her kindergarten teacher, will be sent to an orphanage.

The court has also asked Leonskaia to provide details about when her aunt, with whom Maitino was staying, died. It is the claim of Leonskaia that the girl was staying with her aunt since May 2018 till she died in August.