Breastfeeding Mum Kicked Out Of Court By Russian Judge

This new mother has been kicked out of a courtroom by a female judge for showing “disrespect” by breastfeeding her child.

The bizarre incident took place at the Lakhdenpokhskiy regional court located in the town of Lakhdenpokhya in north-western Russia’s Republic of Karelia.

The female judge, whose name is not reported, reportedly asked Olga Popova to leave her courtroom because she was breastfeeding during her husband’s trial.

Credit: CEN/@plohie_novosti_mc
Olga Popova

She noted that by feeding the baby in the courtroom and in front of the judge, the woman was showing disrespect toward the court.

Olga’s lawyer Ruslan Maslayev said: “When she started nursing, a representative from the prosecution office paid attention to that. Then the judge asked the woman to leave the courtroom.”

Maslayev has stressed that there is no direct indication that breastfeeding a baby in a courtroom is not allowed in Russia’s Code of Criminal Procedure.

The only line that can be attributed to nursing is as follows: “Those present in the room must behave in accordance with moral and ethical standards of conduct.”

Lawyer Maslayev said his client’s wife had been dressed in special clothes, which did not reveal much of the nursing process.

Popova said in her defence: “I was a witness at court, I had to testify. I was seated between my husband and his lawyer.”

Credit: CEN/@plohie_novosti_mc
Olga Popova

She noted that she was covered by her husband and lawyer and did her best to ‘push herself into a wall, so no one would see her’.

He noted that his clients have not decided yet if they would appeal against the judge’s decision.

It is unclear what her husband, who has not been named, was on trial for.


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Story By:  Anastasia SmirnovaSub-EditorJoseph Golder, Agency: Central European News


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