Anastasia and Nikolai were evicted as children, now they want compensation

Anastasia and Nikolai were evicted as children, now they want compensation

Ten years ago, Nikolai and Anastasia were evicted from their home. Now they are adults, and today they are trying to clear the way with their families in court for compensation from the Salvation Army and the Child Protection Board.

"No, no, no," Nikolai cried out at the age of 9, as a youth care worker carried him out of the house. Behind him came two women holding on to his twin sister. "I want mommy," Anastasia cried totally over her head. But she didn't stay there. Their voices blared across the street in Culemborg, cries went through the marrow and bone. And the out-of-home placement was carried out, under the watchful eye of officers.

Now the children of that time are adults and they are taking place in court in The Hague, to enforce compensation with their mother and older half-brother Ilja, for what happened to their family. If you want to see for yourself how it went with the out-of-home placement, you can search the internet for 'child robbery by youth care Gelderland '. Ilja had grabbed the IPad on March 23, 2012, in his desperate powerlessness. The images he made still play automatically in his head when he looks out of that window with his mother, from which he was filming at the time.

settlement

Gelderland Youth Protection has already reached a settlement with the family. There was a conversation in which they talked about what could have been done better. And even though the Salvation Army offered money, the family is unable to enter into discussions with that organization and the Child Protection Board in the same way. That while there is an independent report from 2014 on the table that does not lie. Yes, there was a disputed divorce between the mother and father of the twins, which led to a family custody order. But it was unjust that youth guardians subsequently concluded that Jelena would be an unsuitable educator, who was responsible for the developmental delay of the children.

While work should have been done on 'solving the struggle between the parents, the emphasis has shifted to the mother, who has reacted frantically to it'. But problems were not looked at from multiple sides and there was some bias on the part of youth protectors. And the accusation that Jelena spoke Russian with the children? 'Wonderful in a multicultural society'.

Mother could do it herself

The report cleared the way home: Jelena was able to raise her children herself. But according to the Salvation Army and the Child Protection Board, that conclusion does not mean that the family can now claim compensation. They say the case has expired. Claims about damage suffered are also too vague, lawyers say. And that report? That was made when Jelena finally allowed aid, according to the Salvation Army. The lawyer of the Child Protection Board quotes from it: 'With her rigid and unwavering attitude, the lady often achieves exactly the opposite of what she wants', also during the out-of-home placement.

Ilya is angry about the 'false truths' he hears. He takes the floor several times, leafs through his papers. Next to him, Jelena feels again as she did during all those previous court cases, in which she was spoken and judged, and she had to listen. When it's over, it always feels like she's been wrung out.

Happy forever

It is precisely because of these emotions that almost no parent goes on to receive compensation, their lawyers say after the lawsuit, even though it is now clear that a lot goes wrong in youth care and the juvenile court does not always feel empowered to properly assess what is happening. “Parents are always happy when the kids are back. Children want to move on.” And anyone who had to deal with such a drastic measure as a custodial placement needs time to recover. Also Jelena and her children. The mother eventually found a job again after losing it during the out-of-home placement. Ilja left his mother's house during the out-of-home placement, after he had looked up the media and thus aroused resentment at youth care. He didn't want to stand in the way of the return of his brother and sister, he says. Why do they continue? Ilja: "We have been intimidated, humiliated and threatened."

The life of Nikolai and Anastasia was turned upside down. After 2.5 years they came home again. They both finished high school and continued their education. It's weird, says Nikolai, to be in court now as an adult. During his custodial placement, he never had the idea that it was about him. It was as if it was being used in 'their' business. And Anastasia? She remains silent when asked about her feelings. Her post-traumatic stress syndrome proves that she still has on her retina what happened to her as a child - and that it damaged her.

The judge will rule on July 6.

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