SUBMACHINE GUNNERS RUSHED INTO THE ORPHANAGE “REPUBLIC “PILGRIM”.

In the evening Jan 14th the center of children’s rehabilitation “Republic “Pilgrim” was exposed to the intrusion of armed men. They threatened to the director of the center; they used obscene language and acted defiantly. As it turned out they were the policemen from Krivoi Rig. The reason of their coming was two minors. In such an original way the law-enforcement bodies tried to take the kids who had run away from the orphanage in Krivoi Rig couple weeks ago and found a shelter in “Republic “Pilgrim”. Seeing that it is hard to find consensus with the Principle and workers of the center the policemen from Krivoi Rog called a support – special troops.

Several years ago 2 teens emerged at the porch of “Republic “Pilgrim”. Their complicated story has become a beginning of events which led gunners to the orphanage. Over 4 years ago they were taken under guardianship by Albert Khomyak who with his wife had decided to foster these abandoned kids.

Albert has recently been deprived of the right of guardianship according to quite doubtful reason. The foster father appealed to court and the case is under consideration presently. 15 – year-old Nikolay and 14-year-old Maxim were taken from their foster father and by force directed to the orphanage of Krivoi Rig. The kids were even injured.

Nicolay, 15: “Max didn’t want to let the police come in, they pushed him and hit his shoulder, he had a huge bruise”.

Max, 14: “Yes, the bruise was really big. They hit me cuz I didn’t let them pass and I was pushed on the door.”

The boys were still taken from their foster father and delivered to the local orphanage in Krivoi Rig. Having stayed there for 10 day they couldn’t bear it any longer and ran away to Mariupol by the end of December to ask for refuge in “Republic “Pilgrim”. The director of the orphanage Gennadiy Mokhnenko took Nick and Max and for their search to be seized he informed social service of Krivoi Rig.

Gennadiy Mokhnenko, the director of the fund “Pilgrim”: “As soon as the children have addressed to us for help we called the police of Krivoi Rig and informed that the kids are in our orphanage, that they are doing good. And I was hoping for us to find a way to solve the situation somehow.”

However in Jan 14th the policemen came in order to take the kids back to the orphanage in Krivoi Rig. After refusal of the kids to go with them they called a special troop. They rushed into the orphanage armed with their guns. The kids and workers of the center were shocked.

Gennadiy Mokhnenko: “I suggested the police of Krivoi Rig to figure out if it is their competence to rush into the children’s center to tie up the kids’ hands to deliver them to Krivoi Rig. But they behaved quite inadequate and called special troop to help them. We couldn’t ignore this violation of rights of the children. According to the law of Ukraine if the kids are not criminals they can stay where they asked for refuge until the court’s resolution”.

Arbitrariness of the Krivoi Rig’s police was seized by local authorities and the children were left alone. However, the mentor in “Pilgrim” say it may cause the kids psychological trauma.


Since Nick and Max got to Pilgrim the workers of the center have started fixing their papers though the kids would like to stay with their foster family in Krivoi Rig. But the adults don’t exclude the possibility of a new force intrusion so the kids will stay in Pilgrim so far.

The foster father who also came to Mariupol was also shocked by the situated provoked by the police.

Albert Khomyak, the foster father: “I believe the police of Krivoi Rig got the task to provoke the attack and to call special troop and to arrest me and to send the kids to asylum”.

The very next day after the incident Gennadiy Mokhnenko got the call from the assistant of minister of internal affairs Olexii Milostny to clear up the situation and to take means. On coming to Pilgrim he was aware of the situation and thus he could comment on it and tell what will be undertaken in the nearest future.

Olexii Milostny, assistant of the minister of internal affairs: “The kids did well that they ran away cuz they had a pressure from police there. Those policemen had to examine them and to close their search. And I can’t understand why they should take the kids from here back to that orphanage regardless of their refusal. Probably, we should find out the genuine reason. We’re going to deal with the situation with the assistant of the minister in Dnyepropetrovska area. We’ll also ask to check it by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. As for Pastor Gennadiy and the foster father I would do the same if I were them. Pastor couldn’t refuse to help the kids who addressed to him for the help. If the kids didn’t want to be back to their foster father they would say it to the pastor”.