Pavel Astakhov: “Our goal is to give every child a right to have a family”

President of Russia’s Commissioner for Child’s Rights Pavel Astakhov has today arrived in Yelabuga. The ombudsman was accompanied by Tatarstan Education Minister Engel Fattakhov and Yelabuga Region Chief Gennady Yemelianov.
Children themselves showed Pavel Astakhov around the Yelabuga orphanage. Besides other things, the ombudsman inspected the canteen and bedrooms. He checked if the internet and phone line were working as well.
Children constantly asked him questions, one of which was who protected children in Ukraine’s hostilities area. Pavel Astakhov said it was the responsibility of Ukraine President.
“But, as you can see, he is not coping very well. The situation is very difficult and Russia, of course, does not stay indifferent. We place many of the refugees in former orphanages in Russia. We might bring some to your place if you do not mind.”
Presidential ombudsman went on to talk to people who were adoptive or foster parents. They inquired about privileges for orphaned children when entering educational establishments. Pavel Astakhov replied that competition was never cancelled and had to exist since the best ones should study at higher schools.
“But, if necessary, we will, of course, consider some privileges,” Tatarstan Education Minister pledged.
The parents thanked authorities for establishing the Adoptive Parent School that had helped many of them. The child’s rights commissioner displayed an interest in the local practice, since the Yelabuga orphanage had for several years been the Tatarstan’s leader in returning children to their own families or finding new ones for them. Last year alone, 28 of the 35 educatees found a new home.
“Statistically, 52 thousand orphans were found at Russia’s orphanages in the beginning of this year, while employable citizens were 108 million. It means one thousand employable individuals are found per one child. Our goal is to build an education and support system in a way that we could help these people find each other and make happy,” Pavel Astakhov noted.
Orphanages in Russia should be as few as possible, the official went on to say, and the Adoptive Parent School played a key role in this.