Young boys scream in pain and terror as they are shown being struck repeatedly with a belt by a vicious female 'carer'.
It is believed the boys shown in the footage - apparently shot on mobile phones - are aged between seven and ten. Screen shot from Amur.info video
Russia's Investigative Committee has opened a probe into evidence of grotesque child abuse and the Kremlin's ombudsman for children demanded local officials are held responsible for scenes which many would find impossible to view.
The director of orphanage has been fired and his deputies suspended, it was reported.
Two staff at the orphanage in Amur region - both believed to be in their teens - are being investigated for torture over the footage which raises deep questions over the way children are cared for in orphanages at a time when a ban has been placed on adoptions of orphans by Americans.
Seven partially clothed boys are shown lined up against a wall as the cruel 'carer' calls them forward for punishment. Grabbing them by the arm, she repeatedly and viciously lashes them, ignoring their screams of agony. She also kicks the children. The bodies of the boys were later found to be covered with lash marks.
It is believed the boys shown in the footage - apparently shot on mobile phones - are aged between seven and ten.
Russia's Investigative Committee has opened a probe into evidence of grotesque child abuse and the Kremlin's ombudsman for children demanded local officials are held responsible for scenes which many would find impossible to view. Screen shots from Amur.info video
The 'carer' shown in the footage is aged 17 and was herself an orphan in another orphanage, it is believed. She is smiling and smirking while beating the children. The horrific scenes are from the Mazanovsky orphanage in the village of Pionersky, in Amur region.
Some staff at the orphanage, which houses 129 needy children, complain that their warnings about beatings of children were earlier ignored. It is unclear why they did not call the police. Others claimed they only heard of the abuse from police after investigations began into the sickening footage.
One member of staff challenged the bullying 'carer' shown in the video and was told: 'I was beaten in the orphanage, and I'm going to beat them too'.
The is understood the teenager seen inflicting the punishment - with no senior member of the orphanage staff in sight - has been detained along with another 'carer' accused of cruelty.
'The state represented by the regional government did not see, and has not noticed the moment, when instead of educating the children, they began to destroy their psyches. The regional authorities have to take responsibility for this', said children's ombudsman Pavel Astakhov.
'Cruelty and violence among children is a scary and dangerous trend, which the whole world must battle, uniting the efforts of society and the government'.
Archeologists discovered a new stone bracelet, two sharp pins, a marble ring and fox tooth pendants.
Comments (21)
Even hardened criminals don't put up with abuse and cruelty to children.
I could not watch this without crying. I want to gather those children into my arms and hug
Them until the hurt and pain leaves their bodies.
A civilised society..... not always.
Does anyone have an update on this?
Hopefully, the children are in better hands by now; an update of their situation would be very welcome..
Please tell me what I can do to help; is there anything we can do for these children?