Mother’s ‘tug of love’ victory in Moscow court

A British-based former teacher embroiled in an international tug-of-love with her Russian ex-husband over custody of their two sons has won a “landmark” court ruling in Moscow, lawyers said.

By The Newsroom

Published 22nd Nov 2013, 00:01 BST

Rachael Neustadt – an American living in London – says ex-husband Ilya Neustadt, a former London Metropolitan University lecturer, is keeping Daniel, seven, and Jonathan, five, in Russia in breach of a court order in England following a marriage break-up

She has asked Russian judges to intervene – using a piece of international law ratified by Russia earlier this year. Her lawyers at London law firm Dawson Cornwell said a Moscow appeal court had recognised English High Court orders in a ruling on Wednesday that it described as “landmark”.

Ms Neustadt, 36, from Houston, Texas, said: “I am so grateful to the judges and the court. I can’t wait until the boys and I are all back home in London – we all have a lot of hugs to catch up on and I will not rest until they are in my arms.”