But in 1997, by which time the children had been living with their mother for nearly three and a half years, the father refused to return them at the end of a visitation period.
Bet 1997. gadā, kad bērni jau gandrīz trīsarpus gadus bija dzīvojuši kopā ar māti, tēvs, pie kura bērni bija ciemojušies, viņiem neļāva atgriezties pie mātes.