US authorities to return baby to Russian couple

Washington, April 30 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A California court has ruled Monday that a baby boy who had been seized by authorities in the US should be returned to his Russian parents, a Russian diplomat said.

Five-month-old Sammy Nikolaev has been in protective custody since April 24 when police and Child Protective Services (CPS) removed him from his parents after the family had a dispute with the baby's doctors.

The parents had taken the baby from a hospital without proper discharge. The CPS officials claimed they had removed the boy due to "severe neglect."

"After five hours of deliberation and analysis of factual information presented by both sides, the judge decided to dismiss all charges against the parents," Evgeny Avdoshin, Consul at Consulate General of Russia in San Francisco,said.

"In line with the verdict, the baby will remain with his parents," Avdoshin said.

The Russian diplomat added that the parental rights of Alexander Nikolaev, who is a Russian citizen, have been fully respected during the hearings of the case in the US court.

The case attracted wide public and media attention both in the US and in Russia.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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