British girl trapped in Russia in feud over a one-bed flat
A British girl who has been barred from leaving Russia after a holiday is being used by her father as a bargaining chip in a dispute over the ownership of a cramped military flat.
Victoria Osborne, 11, was turned back by immigration officials last week after her biological father, a colonel in the Russian army, obtained a court order to stop her leaving the country.
Victoria and her mother Tatiana had been on a three-week visit to relatives in Saratov, in southern Russia. Mrs Osborne told The Mail on Sunday that her ex-husband, Colonel Yuri Gladkikh, admitted he was simply using his daughter in a feud over the flat.
Nightmare: Victoria and her mother Tatiana in Saratov on Saturday
Mrs Osborne said she had refused in the past to hand over her rights to the tiny one-room military property because Victoria was entitled to a share. She didn't want the colonel to write her out of his life. Now, however, he is remarrying and is determined they give up their rights.
Colonel Gladkikh has played no role in his daughter's life since separating from Tatiana eight years ago.
And because Victoria, who has dual citizenship, and her mother had travelled to Saratov on their Russian passports, the British Embassy is powerless to intervene. Russian law allows parents to prevent their children leaving the country until they are 18.
Victoria lives in Hampshire with her mother and stepfather Dr Patrick Osborne, a scientist at Southampton University. She had been due to start at The Westgate School in Winchester after obtaining excellent SATs results.
‘Vicky is devastated,’ her mother said. ‘She had been dreaming about starting her new school.’
Trapped: Victoria and her mother during happier times in Winchester
Their nightmare began after they had travelled from Saratov to Moscow for a British Midland flight back to Britain. ‘We went to passport control and two officers were there,’ said Mrs Osborne. ‘“You can travel,” one told me, “but your daughter must stay in Russia.”
‘I said, “You must be joking. What do you mean? Why are you stopping us here?” The next few hours were awful. Vicky was so distraught.’
Colonel Gladkikh had known his daughter had been in Russia but had shown no interest in seeing her, Mrs Osborne said. ‘After this happened, I called him and he just said, “Come and chat.” But it was like talking to a brick wall.
'Vicky was pleading with him, “Please, I want to go home. I miss my friends so much. I want to go to my new school. I want to see Daddy . Please, can I go?”
‘The only thing he said to her, without any apologies, was, “I'm doing this because otherwise your mother won't do what I want”.’ Dr and Mrs Osborne are now negotiating with Colonel Gladkikh over the flat while Victoria and her mother remain with relatives in Saratov.
