Custody Battle in Israel After Belarusian Woman’s Murder Leaves Two-Month-Old Baby Without His Mother
Yanina Rusinova, a 31-year-old woman from Gomel, Belarus, was found seriously injured on the staircase of a residential building in Haifa, Israel, on the night of September 25. She had suffered a severe stab wound to the neck and was rushed to hospital, but doctors were unable to save her life. Her 28-year-old husband, Ali Maswadeh, was arrested on suspicion of murdering her and remains in custody.
Yanina left behind a baby boy who was just two months old at the time of her death. Following the incident, the child was placed with an emergency foster family in Israel. Authorities have kept the family's identity and location confidential, and even Yanina's mother has reportedly not been informed about where her grandson is living.
Grandmother Seeks Custody of Her Infant Grandson
The tragedy has now developed into a custody dispute, with both Yanina's mother and the family of her husband reportedly seeking responsibility for the child.
On October 20, an official meeting was organised in Israel to discuss the infant's future. Yanina's mother, 53-year-old Hanna Rusinova, who lives in Gomel, Belarus, was reportedly assured that she could participate in the proceedings through an online connection. However, despite waiting at the appointed time, she received no call. Her attempts to contact the responsible authorities were also unsuccessful.
Hanna is now seeking legal assistance to secure custody of her grandson and bring him into her care. However, living outside Israel and not being an Israeli citizen has created additional legal and administrative challenges.
Legal Challenges and Questions Over Custody
The case has attracted attention because of the circumstances surrounding Yanina's marriage and the legal complications involved in determining the child's future. Yanina had converted to Islam before marrying Maswadeh. Her family is now concerned about the possibility of the child being placed with relatives of the man suspected of killing his mother.
According to reports, the custody proceedings involve questions of religious and family law. The situation has raised concerns about how the child's welfare, his maternal family's rights and the legal status of his father will be considered.
The situation is further complicated because Maswadeh has not yet been formally charged with murder. Although he remains a suspect in his wife's death and is in custody, the absence of a formal charge means that questions concerning his parental rights remain part of the legal process.
Support from Israeli Women's Rights Organisation
The Michal Sela Forum, an Israeli nonprofit organisation that works to prevent domestic violence through security initiatives, has been assisting Yanina's family.
Its founder, Lili Ben Ami, described the custody proceedings as particularly complicated because Hanna is not an Israeli citizen. The organisation reportedly arranged for her to receive assistance from a Russian-speaking lawyer through the Sena Center of Israel's Ministry of Justice. Hanna has expressed her determination to pursue every available legal avenue to obtain custody of her grandson.
Meanwhile, reported autopsy findings have reportedly strengthened suspicions surrounding Maswadeh's possible involvement in Yanina's death. However, the investigation and legal proceedings remain ongoing, and the allegations have not yet been established through a criminal conviction.
The Child's Future Remains Uncertain
The immediate concern remains the future of Yanina's infant son, who has lost his mother at an extremely young age. While he is currently under emergency foster care, the final custody decision will determine whether he remains in Israel with his paternal relatives or is eventually placed with his maternal grandmother in Belarus.
The case raises important questions about international family custody disputes, the protection of children following suspected domestic violence and the rights of relatives living in different countries. Above all, the child's safety and long-term well-being must remain central to every legal decision.
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