Moscow, Sep 1 (IANS) Russia is witnessing a rise in the incidents of mothers killing their children.
Over 60 mothers have been charged with murdering their babies across Russia in the first half of 2011, RIA Novosti quoted a government daily as saying.
Twenty of the sixtyfour suspected murders took place in the central federal district, which includes Moscow, the Rossiiskaya Gazeta paper said.
Many of the women killed their children after going temporarily insane following labour, the paper quoted psychiatrists as saying.
Other experts suggest, however, that the killings have their roots in social ills.
The paper suggested that problems faced by non-Muscovites with the country’s notorious registration system meant it was hard for them to receive pre-natal medical attention in the capital.
‘Is it easy for non-Muscovites who lack registration to register with hospitals in Moscow or the Moscow region?’ the paper asked.
‘Maybe it seems simpler to give birth in a toilet and then suffocate the child than get involved with our official organisations?’
Another possible reason for the spurt in baby killings suggested by the paper was that many mothers were simply afraid they would be able to afford to raise a child.
One case quoted by the paper involved single mother Oksana T., who killed her newborn after doubting she had the financial means to raise a second child.
‘She regrets this, and has shown repentance,’ case materials quoted by Rossiiskaya Gazeta said. ‘She did this because she was afraid of bringing up two children on her own.’
Oksana T. was sentenced to two years, which she will serve when her daughter reaches 18 years of age.
