Moscow doctor Alena Druzhinina was detained in the case of trafficking in children from surrogate mothers

Alena Druzhinina, a doctor from a network of Moscow clinics, has become a suspect in a criminal case of trafficking in children. Her lawyer Kaloy Akhilgov told Novaya Gazeta about this.

The day before, they came to Druzhinina with a search. After that, the doctor was taken to the Investigative Committee, where she was interrogated first as a witness and then as a suspect. It is still unknown what claims the investigation has against Druzhinina, Akhilgov said.

Now the doctor is in a temporary detention center. The 48 hours from the time of her arrest — the time she can be held without charge — expires on July 21.

Witnesses in this case are two managers of the clinic where Druzhinina works. They communicated with surrogate mothers, Novaya Gazeta notes. They were released after interrogation.

• The criminal case in question was initiated in June 2020, after five newborn children were found on Argunovskaya Street in Moscow along with nannies. As reported, the children were born by surrogate mothers for Chinese citizens.
• In June 2021, Chinese citizen Liu Jun, the father of one of the children found in the apartment on Argunovskaya, was detained in Moscow. Liu Jun wanted to take the baby to China, but he was detained, the baby was taken away, and he was charged with buying a person. The court did not arrest Liu Jun. The child was later returned to him .
• In January 2020, the UK opened another child trafficking case after four babies from surrogate mothers were found in an apartment in the Moscow region , one of whom died. A number of doctors were arrested in the case, they were charged with violating laws in the field of assisted reproductive technologies.
• In June 2021, a bill was submitted to the State Duma that prohibits foreigners from using the services of surrogate mothers in Russia.