DNA tests confirm child removed from Greek Roma has Bulgarian Roma parents
DNA tests have confirmed that the mother of blonde Maria, who was discovered living with a Romani couple in Greece last week, is Sasha Rusev, a Romani woman from Bulgaria. International wire services reported the source of the news as a spokesperson for the Bulgarian Interior Ministry, Svetlozar Lazarov.
The tests have also proven that the father of the girl is Ms Rusev’s husband, Atanas. The Romani couple live in the small town of Nikolaevo in central Bulgaria.
The girl was reportedly left with the other Romani family in Greece in 2009 because her parents did not have the money to care for her. Bulgarian media reported that the girl’s biological mother recognized her when she saw her photograph on television and realized she wanted her back.
Maria was born in Greece when the Romani couple was working there during the olive and orange harvests. They did not have the money to keep her any longer, so they reportedly gave her to the Romani couple in Greece with whom she was found this year.
The girl was seven months old and named Stanka when she was given to her new family. The Rusev’s oldest son told television station bTV that his parents received money for the infant, allegedly about 500 Bulgarian lev.
The Romani couple in Greece claimed from the start that the girl’s biological mother gave her to them and that they saved her life. Bulgarian police have already begun investigating Ms Rusev on the suspicion of selling her child.
Ms Rusev rejects the charges. Should she be found guilty, she faces up to six years in prison and a fine of 15 000 Bulgarian lev.
The Bulgarian news server BGNES reports that the girl will probably be sent back to Bulgaria now. Authorities will place her in a "family-type crisis center" and then into foster care.
