Swedish couple "disregard" adoption law

Local authorities in Madona county have accused a Swedish couple of "abducting" three Latvian siblings after they refused to return the children to a Latvian orphanage or initiate proper adoption procedures.

The three siblings - Jolanta, 13, and twins Edgars and Kristine, 11, - left the Ziluks orphanage in Madona county in October to visit their potential adoptive parents Lennart and Mona Holmgren in Sweden, orphanage officials said.

The couple was supposed to return the children by Jan. 8, 2002, when they were to decide whether they would initiate adoption procedures in Latvia and Sweden.

Instead, the Holmgrens asked for an extension, which a Latvian court rejected. The siblings, however, have not been brought home.

Under provisions of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the three have "in fact been abducted for half a year already," said Gunta Janekalne, director of Madona county's Social Assistance and Health Care Department.

Rudite Zeibferte, headmistress of the Ziluks orphanage, said last October's visit was the second between the children and the Holmgrens. The first time, they were returned on time.

"What made those people decide that now they would disregard our laws? It is difficult to understand," she said.

Orphanage officials said the practice of essentially lending out children to prospective foster parents was not a normal one and said an exception was made in this particular case because it appeared the parents were serious about adoption.

The Latvian National Children Rights Protection Center has been working with its Swedish counterpart to find a solution to the problem, but so far, officials say talks have not been fruitful.

"If the family wants to adopt the children, it would have to go through all necessary authorities in Latvia as well as Sweden," said Andra Reinfelde, deputy director of the center.

"There are several different legal measures we are considering at the moment. A last resort would be to contact the Interpol through our general prosecutors' office. The current situation is illegal in both countries, but there are ways and procedures for letting the children stay in Sweden."

Madona county officials said they were aware that a family provides a healthier atmosphere for children than an orphanage, but said the process of young children adapting culturally to life in Sweden cannot be rushed.

This, Janekalne said, was behind the Latvian court ruling forbidding an extended stay with the Holmgrens before proper adoption procedures were completed.

She did admit that the children have already learned Swedish and seem comfortable with their adoptive parents, but said the proper procedure should be followed.

Latvia recently signed the European Convention on Adoption of Children that says any child without legal guardians could be put up for adoption. Lawmakers are currently working on legalizing the issue here.