Detention of a Ukrainian Citizen in Kazakhstan
At Astana Airport in Kazakhstan, Ukrainian national Liubov Rozhanska was taken into custody following a request from Russian authorities. Rozhanska had arrived from Istanbul to collect her grandson, who was intended to be handed over to his father residing in Odessa. The boy was born in 2018 from the first marriage of her daughter, Alla Andriieva. In 2021, Andriieva relocated with her son to Russia’s Kaliningrad region to live with her second husband, a Russian citizen. By 2022, both Alla and her son had acquired Russian citizenship, renouncing their Ukrainian nationality.
Legal Background of the Case
In 2025, Ukraine’s Supreme Court ruled that Odessa would be the official residence of the child, following a lawsuit filed by his father. During the summer of 2026, the family of the boy’s mother’s second husband contacted Rozhanska with the intention of transferring custody of the child to his Ukrainian father and grandmother. However, a Russian court ordered Rozhanska’s detention on allegations of child abduction. The arrest request was made through the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), highlighting the cross-border dimension of this case.
Currently, Rozhanska remains in a detention facility in Kazakhstan’s capital, with the threat of extradition to Russia looming. A court hearing regarding her case is scheduled to take place within three days. According to her lawyers, Oleksii Pryanishnikov and Riza Nurbayeva, Rozhanska was unaware of the criminal case initiated against her in Russia.
Rozhanska was unaware of the criminal case filed against her in Russia. – Attorneys Oleksii Pryanishnikov and Riza Nurbayeva
This incident highlights the complex legal challenges between Ukraine and Russia, particularly concerning international custody disputes and extradition issues. The arrest of Liubov Rozhanska, linked to a child custody conflict, could have far-reaching consequences not only for her but also for the boy’s family. Cases involving multiple countries often involve prolonged and complicated legal proceedings. Observers should watch closely as developments in this matter may influence future diplomatic relations and legal precedents in similar transnational disputes.
This case is not an isolated incident, as it reflects a troubling trend regarding child custody disputes in the region. For instance, two women in Zaporizhzhia are facing trial for attempting to sell their infant daughters, highlighting the severe legal and ethical challenges that families encounter amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions. Such incidents underscore the complexities surrounding parental rights and the intersection of international law.