Maria Smelaya's case highlights mothers' vulnerability in custody disputes.
Krasnodar resident Maria Smelaya has only seen her son once since reaching a settlement with her child's father. The visit took place in the presence of her ex-husband, and no further arrangements have yet been made for a location, she said. Courts are failing to address violations by fathers, and enforcing the court's requests for interim measures could have led to a different outcome, human rights activists believe.