American woman who returned Russian boy sued

An American woman who sent her adopted Russian son back to Moscow alone on an aircraft with a note saying she didn't want him any more is facing a lawsuit for child support.

Torry Hansen refused to co-operate with investigators after the boy, then aged seven, arrived in Russia in April 2010 with a note stating he had psychological problems. Although Ms Hansen was never charged criminally, her adoption agency subsequently filed a case in Tennessee, where she was then living, seeking child support for the boy.

The suit is now scheduled to go to trial at the end of March in a court in Shelbyville.

Ms Hansen had no immediate comment on the matter, while her mother, Nancy Hansen, said that her daughter had refused to answer questions put to her by attorneys. A judge will now determine whether to compel her to co-operate.

The incident drew international attention and prompted new adoption agreements between the US and Russia.

According to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, the boy has joined 16 other children at an SOS Children's Village in Russia.

AP