More Trouble for Russian-US Adoption Relations: Russians say they didn’t know about Dykstra case until after trial

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The other day I wondered why the Russian government  hadn’t commented on last month’s acquittal of Brian Dykstra, charged with murdering his adoptive Russian son, Isaac Jonathan Dykstra.  Now we know why. The Russian government didn’t know about the case!  I almost find this too fantastic to believe. Isaac (whose birth name has now been revealed in the Russia press as Ilya Kargyntsev), died in 2005 after being in the US for only three months.. Under Russian-US adoption agreements, the US government is required to report the death of any Russian adoptee immediately to appropriate Russian Federation authorities. Remember that’s how back in 2008, European Adoption Consultants got in trouble   (see other EAC posts in right sidiebar for more) after the accidental death of  Dmitri Yakolev/Chase Harrison. The agency failed to report the death in a timely manner that satisfied the Russians.  ‘m not sure if that agreement was in force at the time of Ilya’s death, but it’s been negotiated since and more safeguards (for what they’re worth) are waiting to be ratified by the State Duma, Common sense tells us the death should have been reported, even late, if for no other reason than to try to look Continue Reading →

New York "Safe Haven" Hotline: No emergencies in 10 years

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The other day I was contacted by Rick Karlin, a reporter for the Albany (NY) Times Union with the news that the state’s “safe” haven” hotline (not to be confused with the AMT-Children of Hope hotline operated by Tim Jaccard) had cut back its hours of operation. Karlin told me that the so-called hotline had gone down from 24/7  service to 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM  and was off weekends and holidays.  In fact, it had been operating like this for two years–and nobody noticed. I talked to Rick quite a awhile on the phone and sent him some material about New York’s law.  The article came out Friday.. Abandoned Infant Hotline: Call during work hours The story is self-explanatory.  I was quoted three times.  Not surprisingly, Tim Jaccard and I had basically the same response: this is crazy.  Even if I vehemently oppose “safe haven” laws, the question is:  What’s the logic in a part time emergency hotline?. The answer is contained in this WTF moment in the article: Since the hotline opened 10 years ago, it has received about 100 calls per year. Also: “No one who was about to abandon a baby has called the hotline since Continue Reading →

The Adoption Journey: Adoption is an Act of Obedience

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 (NOTE:  Last night I had technical problems and the last part of thie blog disappeared.  I re-wrote that part this morning.) To celebrate National Adoption Awareness Month, Bethany Christian Services, Lifesong for Orphans  (“Bringing Joy and Purpose to Orphans”), and Lifeline Children’s Services.have unselfishly launched a new webpage, The Adoption Journey Project. a resource for couples “starting to think about adoption” aka reeling in more fish. The November 30, 2011 Adoption Journey Project press release informs us that most adoption agency websites don’t post information about adoption  needed by new or thinking-about-it paps.  Who knew?  I’ve never seen an agency webpage that wasn’t full of answers in search of questions. From  the  Adoption Project press release: “The vast majority of resources being published by adoption agencies and supporting organizations are for families that are either close to or have committed to the adoption process already,” said Marc Andreas, Vice President of Marketing at Bethany Christian Services, the largest adoption agency in the country.“We recognize that couples just starting to think about adoption have completely different perspectives and needs regarding the discernment process for adoption in their lives.  This project will provide tangible resources to help support them and the beginning Continue Reading →

Ivan Skorobogatov: Investigative Committee Rejects Court Ruling; Intends to Continue Craver and Possibly Other Prosecutions

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The Russian Investigative Committee (IC), undetered by yesterday’s decision by Moscow’s Basmanny Court and the Russian General Prosecutor, to dismiss IC’s petition to extradite  Michael and Nanette Craver, has declared its intent to continue its prosecution of the couple even if the prosecution has  been ruled “illegal..”(see blog directly below this for details) According to RIA Novisti,  Vladimir Markin, spokesperson for the IC said the investigation in to the Cravers will continue no matter what the court rules: “The refusal of a Russian court to arrest the Cravers in absentia will not hinder further investigation of the criminal case in Russia, as well as the international efforts to find the suspects, detain and extradite them,”  He said that though international laws prohibit a second sentence for the same crime, it applies only to legal procedures in one state, within the national jurisdiction. I have no idea what this second paragraph means.  It appears to be a deliberate misreading of US and international law, and the Basammy and General Prosecutor’s office’s interpretation of both..  There is simply no way for the Cravers to be retried here. Unless there was  unique jurisdaictional stipulation in the adoption agreement  that gave  Russian authorities some Continue Reading →

Vanya Skorobogatov. Russian Court and Prosecutors Refuse to Issue Warrant for Michael and Nanette Craver; Vanya Victim of "RAD" Quackery?

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Russian media reports tonight that  the Moscow Bassamy District Court, backed by the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office. has refused to issue a warrant for the in abstensia arrest and trial of Michael and Nannette Craver in the death of their Forever Son, Vanya  Skorobogatov. (Nathaniel Craver)  Citing double jeopardy, the court said any prosecution of the Cravers by Russian authorities would be “illegal;.” The Cravers, originally charged with homicide (with aborted death penalty specifications), conspiracy and child endangerment,  were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in September, and in mid-November were sentenced to time served and  3/1 years probation.. An autopy revealed 80 injuries to the boy including 20 to his head. The Russian Investigative Committee placed the couple on INTERPOL’s wanted list (they have never appeared on the online INTERPOL list) and called for their arrest and trial in absentia. From ITAR-TASS: The prosecutor explained that the U.S. citizens had already been convicted on this case in their native country, “which means that they cannot be prosecuted for the same crime in Russia”. Therefore, the prosecutor’s representative (Vanya  said that he objects to the arrest of the U.S. citizens in absentia. In connection with the verdict earlier passed to the Continue Reading →

Blue Denim: Another Lost Film

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I’ve written about  Blue Denim (1959, a moving and scary film about teen pregnancy, before. I read the play in high school and saw the film once or twice on TV  in the late 1960s or early 1970s. and never forgot it. Like That Hagen Girl, Blue, Blue Denim has virtually disappeared from public memory. It has never been released on DVD or video. It’s listed in the TCM online catalogue, but I’ve never seen it run there. The film might be available for viewing on the ‘net. Blue Denim gets short shrift from feminist scholars, too, who concentrate on the abortion narrative and complain about the focus on Arthur’s “coming of age.”  As someone who considers herself a feminist scholar, I find their kvetches short-sighted and as a bastard, annoying..  Professional feminists, of course, rarely consider bastards and our mothers and fathers of much interest or value.anyway.  We’re the crap in their punchbowl. To make it worse, unlike its bookend A Summer Place,  released the same year, which can qualify as anybody’s guilty pleasure,  Blue Denim  isn’t deliciously smarmy or entertaining.  It’s one of those films that makes me sort of sick to my stomach–even the out-dated parts which Continue Reading →

Cyber Lilfe Meets Real Life: Meeting Peach!

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One of the fun things about being an activist and blogger is meeting people you know from the ‘net, but not in “real life.”   Tonight I had the honor of  meeting Samantha  Brian-Franklin aka blogger  Peach Neither Here Nor There.  And what a peach she is! Peach was in town for her inlaws’ wedding anniversary party, and was able care out some time for us to get together.  Here we are at the Blue Danube discussing our favorite subject…

No Original Birth Certificate? No Passport! The National Security State Begns to Flush our Right to…Everthing

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The birth certificate is the most political and politicized public document issued by a government entity in the United States today. It is the “breeder document” that generates all other government and private documents of identity and entitlement. Since the government has positioned itself as the arbiter and creator of identity, bestowing upon each of us the legitimacy of our existence, we cannot function in a “normal” way for long without it. What were once  routine activities everyone could enjoy, are now mediated by a piece of government paper issued to us its discretion.. For instance, without a government-approved birth certificate or documents engendered by it, a child can’t enter school, attend camp, or even play Little League; adults can’t marry, acquire security clearances, collect private and government pensions, access government programs, open a bank account, acquire employment, rent an apartment or buy a home, fly to Seattle or Fort Worth, enter certain public and private buildings, or legally drive a car. And certainly one cannot travel internationally, even to the once easily accessibly Canada and Mexico, without a passport or pass, which cannot be acquired without …a birth certificate. Starting April 1, 2011, the US Department of State changed Continue Reading →

Ohio Right to Life is So Thankful for Adoption: Adoptees Don’t Need Rights

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Happy Thanksgiving! If you’re one of those who don’t feel you have much to be thankful for this year, think again –unless you’re in or from Ohio, that is. Ohio Right to Life wants you to be thankful for adoption! ORTL, in fact, is so thankful for adoption that it got  together a few of its friends to tell us how thankful they are for it and us–who make their miracle happen. ORTL  fo decades has been the single greatest impediment to restoring records access to Class Bastard Ohio. ORTL loves us so much that it wants to protect us from our birth certificates and our rights. ORTL’s  hobby horse trumps the rights of thousands.of Ohio adoptees. ORTL: “Promoting Life” while screwing adoptees and their families. A drawing of her family  by Olivia Gonidakis This Thanksgiving, Ohio Right to Life is grateful for the gift of adoption as a loving and life-saving alternative to abortion.  Because November is National Adoption Month, it is important to take time to celebrate the selfless sacrifice of birthmothers and the gift of children. Join us by reading words of thanks from members of the pro-life family who have been adopted or who have chosen to Continue Reading →

Ivan Skorobogatov Update: Cravers Aren’t Talking: Lawyer Is

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The Cravers aren’t talking about Russia’s attempt to extradite them for the murder of their Forever Son, Vanya Skorobogatov, but one of their lawyers is. The York Dispatch reports: I don’t think (Russia) can have any jurisdiction over them,” said Suzanne Smith, who represented Michael Craver. “I don’t think any court in the United States would honor (such) an extradition warrant.” U.S. citizens are protected from double jeopardy laws, and the Cravers were already legally tried here, Smith said. Also, the Russians don’t have jurisdiction in the case, despite the fact they appear to be arguing Nathaniel was a Russian citizen, she said. “(Russian officials) are just saying, ‘We’re not happy with the result. We want to do it our way,’” Smith said. “Well, you don’t get to do that. I don’t know anyone who would recognize Russians’ authority in this particular case. They don’t really have any.” District Attorney Tom Kearney, agrees, saying that any attempt to retry the Cravers would run into double jeopardy issues The question of whether one was properly tried … is in the eyes of the beholder,” he said. “We certainly believe they were. We devoted substantial resources into the prosecution, and the jury Continue Reading →