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'Chornobyl Child' Causes International Stir By Refusing To Return To Belarus

September 14, 2008

By Farangis Najibullah

Tanya Kazyra (right) is fighting to stay with her host family in California.

After spending the better part of nine summers with her Californian host family, Tanya Kazyra has decided against returning to her native Belarus.

The 16-year-old "child of Chornobyl" says she wants to stay permanently with Debra and Manuel Zapata and their three children, whom she calls "my real family."

But Tanya's decision is having a global impact -- infuriating officials in Minsk, leading to rifts in diplomatic circles, and threatening the efforts of international organizations intended to reach out to children living in the shadow of the Soviet-era nuclear disaster.

Belarusian officials responded to Tanya's refusal to return home by banning foreign exchanges of children affected by the 1986 explosion at Chornobyl. Minsk said it would not allow children to travel to Western countries without guarantees that all will return home.

The case has had particular resonance in Ireland, where the Chernobyl Children's Project International (CCPI) was founded in 1991 by Adi Roche. She says she was "shocked" by Minsk's decision.

"Over the 22 years since the Chornobyl disaster, hundreds of thousands of children had this lifeline, which has helped to keep the Belarusian generation clean and sustained and to make sure that they are able to have healthy children the next generation on," Roche says.

"But those who are most affected now are those who come to countries like Ireland, Germany, or America for medical assessment, for treatment and, of course, for rest and recuperation, which is the bulk of the children," she adds. "And we were shocked, because this a lifeline for the children."

Roche and Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin have been actively trying to resolve the crisis, which they say affects thousands of children suffering from Chornobyl explosion consequences.

Irish diplomats traveled to Minsk last week to meet with Belarusian officials to try to convince them to lift the ban. On September 11, a Belarusian delegation was in Dublin to continue the discussions with Irish officials.

Roche tells RFE/RL that Dublin, as a short-term solution, is asking Belarusian officials for an exemption that would allow children to travel to Ireland for a preplanned trip over the Christmas holiday.

In the long run, Roche says, Ireland hopes to sign an intergovernmental agreement with Belarus on child protection and child safety that could pave the way for a resumption of the "Chornobyl children's" trips to Ireland.

Risks To Program

According to Roche, some 50,000 children from areas in the Chornobyl zone travel annually to the United States and EU countries, including France, Spain, Portugal, and Britain. In the United States alone, where the CCPI has an affiliate office in New York, some 1,400 children make the trip every year to spend time with American host families.

The provision of vital medical treatment is a key component of the program, and recently the Irish government allocated $1 million to the CCPI to build medical centers in Belarus.

Roche says that if the crisis is not solved, there is a risk that "such funding would be withdrawn."

Tanya's nine summers in California with the Zapata family were organized by the Petaluma-based Chernobyl Children's Project. The organization is part of the Children of Chernobyl, United States Alliance, which groups a number of U.S. humanitarian organizations working with children affected by the disaster.

Prior to Minsk's decision to impose the controversial ban, a high-ranking Belarusian official reportedly met with Tanya and the Zapatas on three occasions in an attempt to persuade the girl to return home.

Tanya failed to change her mind, however, and the Zapatas instead hired a lawyer to secure a student visa that would enable Tanya to continue her education in the United States. According to the lawyer, Tanya's current tourist visa expires on December 5.

The girl herself has said she comes from a troubled background and that her legal guardian, her grandmother, has given her blessing for her stay in the United States.

Minsk, however, insists that Tanya is legally a minor, and cannot make such a decision on her own. Belarusian officials accuse Tanya's host family of depriving her of proper schooling -- in interviews with the U.S. media, the Zapatas have said they are homeschooling Tanya.

'Don't Be Selfish'

Tanya's case has brought mixed public reaction both in the United States and in her homeland.

RFE/RL's Belarus Service correspondent Jan Maksymiuk says that some in Belarus are expressing "understanding" for Tanya's decision, while others blame her for setting a precedent that could harm other Chornobyl victims.

"People believe that she is mature enough to decide about herself. Besides, her family situation in Belarus is such that there are actually no obstacles for her to stay in the U.S.," Maksymiuk says.

"Well, of course there were voices that Tanya should go back to Belarus because this is a bad precedent for other children, who come for such respite tours in the West. But most people sympathize with Tanya."

Commenting on an article about Tanya's case published on the website of the Santa Rosa, California, newspaper "The Press Democrat," a U.S. reader identified as "Kvandyck" writes that Tanya "should go home" and return to the U.S. legally when she is old enough.

"Being in America on a dishonorable basis, which is costing thousands of other needy children and anxious American host families untold disappointments is not the way to behave," Kvandyck says.

Many others writing on the website, however, sided with Tanya. "Even children try to run away from Belarusian regime," one says.

Another anonymous post notes: "Tanya is from a country with a dictator and a totalitarian government, so there really is no 'going back.'"

Comment (6)

This forum has been closed.

Comments 1-6 (of 6)

by: Craig from: Burke, VA

September 18, 2008 16:37

Tanya is not depriving other children by her choice. It is a system that would hold children hostage for political purposes that is at fault. Belarus is showing itself as the slave state that it really is, with no concern for the rights and well-being of its citizens. Tanya is a striking a blow for freedom and I applaud her!

by: sergei from: Winnipeg

September 17, 2008 16:47

Who is banning Belarusian children from coming to the West and getting medical treatment etc? NOT Tanya. It is Lukashenko. Who was responsible for the suffering of thousands of Iraqi children used as blackmail because of Sadaam's refusal to avoid sanctions by demilitarizing. SADAAM not the West, LUKASHENKO not Tanya.
The logic of those who say Tanya is in the wrong is incorrect.

by: Kate Van Dyck from: Alexandria, VA

September 16, 2008 20:03

Even those of us who think Tanya should return home and return in a year when she has finished high school, actually do sympathize with her! OF COURSE, we can sympathize because some of us are host parents to many other children JUST LIKE Tanya! They all have hard lives! That is why they are coming here! It is not a vacation, but a humanitarian effort at great cost to give them medical/dental care, healthy food, clean air and loving, safe haven.

But they all can't just stay here as much as we love them- they are NOT OUR CHILDREN! They all can't defy the promise that their host families make to return these minor children to their home country on time with their group! Their country and their families TRUST US to keep their children safe and to send them back.

Is it fair for Tanya to stay when it is costing all the other children their chance for a healthy summer? For medicines and winter clothing for their families? For some hope of a better future in their homeland or elsewhere as healthy adults? Her family situation is so similar to many other children all over the world- at least she has a loving grandmother to care for her.

I have been to Belarus twice to visit the brother and sister that our family has hosted for 6 summers. They are sobbing on the phone to hear that they may not be allowed back next summer! They love their family, village and friends but they return each summer with repaired teeth, no coughs, better nutrition and medicines for their sick mother and baby sister.

This is not about who has sympathy for Tanya or who 'sides with' her! It is about doing the right thing and becoming a stable, happy adult- knowing that you did the right thing for thousands of other children- even though it was very hard to do.

by: Cecelia Calhoun from: USA

September 16, 2008 18:53

The Zapata family knew the rules under which they had been able to host Ms. Kazyra for the previous eight summers as they returned her as scheduled. Mrs. Zapata had also served on the Chernobyl Children Project board for one year, ensuring that all host families abided by the organization's rules. Now that Ms. Kazyra wanted to stay, the Zapatas feel no responsibility to uphold the rules and guidelines that allowed them to bring her to the U.S. this past summer.
It is natural for an adolescent child to make bonds during this kind of program, especially when they come from a country with less economic resources than exist in their host country. The health respite programs are not one of rescuing children from their home environments and keeping them in the US.
One family, one child has now made it impossible for thousands and thousands of Belarusian children to get relief from their contaminated environment as well as to receive health, dental and vision care.

by: Martin Bright

September 15, 2008 17:47

Well, this case is like the cuban child. Legally, Tanya is a minor and cannot take a decition like this on their own. If the US allow this to happen, open a Pandora´s box of unknown consecuences.
One can legitmally be against Lukashenka regime, but must act in a lawfull manner, and in this case, no matter how one simpatize with this chioldren, helping her broke the laww is not a wise path. Also, one cannot but have a second thoughts on homeschooling.

by: Norman Wiebe from: Canada

September 15, 2008 04:24

I have taught in public schools,"private" Christian schools and am also well aware of home schooling situations. In my experience "home schoolers" are definitely at the top of the class in attitudes,ability to except responsibility,courtesy, willingness to help,etc.What is "improper" about this type of schooling?

Comments 1-6 (of 6)