DUSHANBE -- The Tajik mother of a baby who died while in Russian custody says she was hastily deported in order to prevent proper investigations into her son's death.
Zarina Yunusova and the body of her deceased 5-month-old son arrived in Dushanbe on November 16.
Yunusova told journalists on her arrival that her son had been absolutely healthy when police in St. Petersburg took him away from her and her husband last month.
The baby boy, Umarali Nazarov, died on October 14, a day after officials separated him from his parents, accusing the couple of violating migration rules.
Police in St. Petersburg said the boy died of respiratory infection.
Tajikistan's government has demanded that the Russian authorities investigate the boy's death, which has sparked protests by Tajik migrants and human rights activists in Russia.