Why they still stick to term kidnapping? Is now getting in parent's car (whatever is happening between them) a kidnapping? Or custody related questions would not drive enough attention to the news bulletin?

By Jimbo | June 3, 2009 10:03 AM

Though we do not have the exact facts, apparently under US law, the father was the sole guardian and this is the problem of cross-border issues, when one country may consider one thing and the other another.

By Solkhar | June 3, 2009 11:53 AM

Yes, it is kidnapping because custody in the Netherlands, where the girl lived and has a life/school/friends/her MOTHER, hadn't been ruled on.

If this had been an (for example) Saudi father who'd done this, got an order in a Saudi court, snatched his daughter without his partners knowledge; there would have been uproar. Just because the father wants to play 'happy families' back in the USA doesn't make this any different, or any better.

By osita | June 3, 2009 12:45 PM

Being born in USA makes one a USA citizen. If the father has legal custody of the child he had every right to take the child back to USA or anywhere he choses. Howard Barfield de la chappelle USA

By howard Barfield de la chappelle | June 3, 2009 4:54 PM

I totally agree with Osita. US court decisions cannot be applicable under every circumastance in other countries. The mother is ukrainian, so what if a ukrainian court in future rules that the child has to return to the mother? Who is better the US or ukrainian court? Since they had their common life here a dutch court should decide..and moreover not knowing the details of the case.Was the mother aware of the court taking place in the US? Did the court notify her?If not under international law the decision is not applicable.
Moreover, the employees of the american embassy that helped the father to kidnap the child could and should be accounted responsible for their act.
But we are talking about US...nobody cn touch uncle sam.

By kos | June 3, 2009 7:25 PM

Good that for once the father gets his right. All too often the mother is the winner in a divorce and the pain that does to the father is never mentioned. It happened to me and I curse my ex-wife for stealing my son every day.

By CaptainZen | June 3, 2009 9:00 PM

The case is cristal clear: the father committed, pursuant the Dutch penal code, a felony. Secondly: the father is bound to U.S. laws and has to obey them. The U.S. and the Netherlands signed mutually signed a treaty regarding issues comparable to this one. The father did not respect this treaty -- thus committed a felony -- and used brutal force against his daughter; i.e. leading to traumatic experiences. The father also seems to have a clear history of domestic violence; i.e. abusing the mother of the kidnapped child. So in line with U.S. Federal - and State laws: the man cannot be a good father for this child. He actually should be in prison.

By Dirk Raat | June 4, 2009 12:34 AM

What is this all about rights etc. Doesn´t a girl of 8 years old have anything to say? What about her live? What about her friends? What about her choices? Do documents and rights decide about the hapiness of an individual. Is that democracy? This father cannot be a good father because really loving your child is putting her happiness in the first place and than your owne.

By Sandra Langeveld | June 4, 2009 2:53 PM

This father has spent thousands of dollars going back and forth to court in the Netherlands and the US just to see his daughter. This mother told repeated lies which is on tape to judges. This was her selfishness and personal revenge that caused this situation. The father did everything legal and has all documentation. Katje wanted to see her father but she did not care!

By Truthful friend | June 5, 2009 2:42 AM

to true friend. Wondering is the father saying the truth? Is he mentioning the 5 marriages he had in the US alone? Is he telling the court how the mother was brought to the US where she gave birth to Katja?

By US friend | June 5, 2009 6:22 PM

All talks about legal, illegal. Fine that the father did everything legal, but something which isn't about papers are feelings, emotions. It is very clear that this father is so full of his own rights that he doesnt understand anymore that his child is hurt the most about this. Amazing, as a parent you would say that every tear of your child hurts you even more.... but he will sleep very good thinking of the revenge he had. I wonder if he checks his daughter, how long she cried before falling asleep.

By Sandra Langeveld | June 5, 2009 8:09 PM

TO US friend- You should really know your facts, he is on his third marriage,mother was suppose to marry another man to stay in the US and knew if she did not marry that man she would be here illegal, she chose to marry Katje's father.There is alot you do not know, he is a good man and only wanted a relationship with his daughter,she is happy and that is all that counts.

By Truthful friend | June 6, 2009 12:35 AM

To truthful friend. Let’s count. Marriage #1. Had to be married to get his green card thru wife.. I get it. It doesn’t count. Not really a marriage just needed it to establish himself in the US. Marriage #2. The women he had his first child with. Does count since he had a child with this individual.. Marriage #3. To a Russian women from Moscow. Doesn’t count since it ended shortly. Marriage #4 . To a Ukrainian women who he had Katya. Does count we all know why. Marriage #5. His recent wife from Ukraine..Does count since the marriage seems to be working so far. I see how you get at three.
I sure hope if this goes on for a long time ,Katya will be old enough to decide herself with whom she would want to live. All I have to say is poor kid. She is with estranged father and a women that is not even related to her. The fact that the father arranged psychiatric care for his daughter speaks for itself. After all it is not about the father’s or mother’s happiness we are talking about...

By US friend | June 6, 2009 5:45 PM

Maybe you should wonder about the revenge of this Mother, just read some Dutch newspapers. Maybe you should read the one article the Father published in AD last weekend. Not one bad word about the Mother, just facts. Maybe you should wonder how much this child has cried for her Father for many years, or doesn't that count?? Maybe you should wonder about all the gifts the child never received from her Father?? Maybe you should wonder about the cries from a little girl who's not allowed to see her grandmother living close by. Maybe you all should wonder about the mental abuse?? It appears she's living in a loving family, people who care. There are no winners in situations like this and if the Mother would have cooperated with the court this would have never happened. Bless the soul of this little girl, just another friend.

By Another friend | June 7, 2009 7:17 AM

The child´s wel being should come first.
But as I understand it the father had not seen his daughter in 2 years.
And they wonder why a father would go to these extremes.
Don´t fathers have rights to see there children?

By Rob | June 10, 2009 7:55 AM

There seem to be discussions over here between persons who know the father very good. Can somebody please just tell me how Katya is doing? Is she really happy? Can she cope with this sudden new life? IS SHE HAPPY? That's the biggest question. Can somebody inform me? Please.........

By Sandra | June 18, 2009 8:11 PM

To another friend.I red today the true story behind the father and mother. Don't let me laugh: presents she didnt get, cries for her father, cries for a grandmother, mental abuse. What are you actually talking about. Discussions are even not necesarry anymore. A father who does to his child what this man has done, already for all 8 years that Katya lives, deserves to end up with nothing. Doesn't want any parent that his child can be proud at him/her, that she loves the for who they are and because they let her live the live she wants? Has a child ever loved a parent because he/she forced him? This father doesn't understand that as long as he lives he will never have what he so much want: the love of his child. Just because het doesnt know what giving real love is.......... sad for him. Very sad. The day that Katya is old enough to decide herselve, I'm confinced that she will turn her back on hem and will disrespect and hate him. Life is about letting live and not about forcing to life the live that you choose for people. Love is something so different than money.

Ik hope he ends up in jail, for years and years...... without all the freedom he just now took from his daughter.

Inhuman.

By Sandra Langeveld | June 19, 2009 7:08 PM

To Us Friend:

Actually, information you have not quite correct. Katya is US citizen. She was born in USA. Her mother is Ukrainian citizen. She was in Holland only because her ex. Now she do not have right even stay in this country. She never have been abused. She use this very convenient "sad stories" to take advantages from her ex and from Holland. She needs to go back to Ukraine. She has debts in USA with credit card for more than $8,000.00, and she never paid it back. She is not "poor" victim. She is a very agressive woman who lives in hate. Marina hated her father, she was raised in the hate to him. Now Katya is very happy! Finally she has a very good and loving family. There are many people who wants to take advantage from our contries.We shouldn't be so naive and trust them complitely.

By Erna | June 23, 2009 2:25 AM

To Erna,

can you please explain me how happy Katya is. Does she have made friends already, does she forgot het mum already? Does she forgot het live until now already? Isn't she upset after talking one minute to her mum? Please tell me about her hapiness.. I really want to know, because that is all we wish, that Katya is happy.

By Sandra | June 23, 2009 9:21 AM

To Sandra:

Yes, she is very happy, she has friennds, she is playinn with dogs at home ( they have three of them). She loves her mother, but she likes US and her home here. She is playing with kids, and many friends and relatives came to visit her. The problem with her mom is that mom always is very angry, she use often bad words( like f-words) during conversation. Even Katja used such words sometimes, that tells you is was normal in mom's house. After conversation with mom Katja gets scarry. May be she is afraid to be punished - I don't know. But it is very clear now that Katja have lovely and nice environtment now.Comparing ther mom, Katja's dad never said any bad word about her mom, who insulted him constantly and continues do it now.

By Erna | June 24, 2009 6:19 PM

To Erna,

thank you very much for your answer. Of course it doesn't matter to any of us where she is living, but the hapiness of Katya goes before everything. I hope with all my heart she will have a loving family and will find rest, have a love of laughs and a beautifull live to look forward to. Thats all that matters. I couldnt sleep from the idea that such a little girl is crying herself to sleep every evening...

By Sandra | June 25, 2009 7:26 AM

Of course she feels scarry after a conversation with her mum. She loves her mum and the worst thing for a child is when one of your parents is crying or in pain.... It's very understandable I guess

By Sandra | June 25, 2009 7:31 AM

What keeps bothering me Erna is; why does a girl who is very happy according to you, says to her mum ""mama, when do you come and get me out of here, I want to go home. That is the last thing we heard from her...... that doesn't give us a feeling of happiness but more a cry for help.

By Sandra Langeveld | June 25, 2009 12:40 PM

Allways nice to get an honest answer on such a question as the last one. It gives a feeling of good environment she is in now. Unfortunately not. If Katya's father was such a good man he would let Holland know how she is....... because that is all we care about. HER, not the parents.

By Sandra | June 29, 2009 8:15 PM

I know the mom and dad. Dad is a control freak and it is HIS way or NO way. Dad is nothing but a scam artist who uses people. He is always in court for one thing or another. He currently has a court case pending regarding a dog. Several years ago a dog was taken away from him, by the authorities because Paul locked the dog in a hot car. This "father" abuses animals....I wouldn't trust him two minutes with a child!

By former US friend of the dad | July 22, 2009 7:45 PM

What kind of "father" organizes a terror filled kidnapping to their own little child?
Rhetorical, of course.
The answer:
The kind that shouldn't have Katja or any other child. Obviously.
Only sick individuals would cause such terror and trauma to ANY child. Much less their own.
And the new "mother" is every bit as guilty for allowing this to continue.

By Kathryn | October 5, 2009 4:16 PM