Case Summary

Contents

The Story of Nick, Leon Levenstein, and Anna Lyudinovskova

  • 2019 - Conception: The relationship with the child’s mother began with a brief romantic affair, which led to conception. The relationship ended quickly.
  • 2019 - Pregnancy Notification: Nick learned of the pregnancy while in Paris. He traveled to St. Petersburg to discuss the future.
  • 2019 - Move to Malta and Birth of the Child: Anna and Nick moved to Malta in 2019. Leon was born on February 27, 2020. Tension in the relationship continued, leading to three court travel bans to prevent the mother from traveling to Russia with Leon.
  • 2020–2023 - Good relations and interactions with Leon: I always loved Leon and wanted to be with him. This was never an issue. I felt that Anna always tried to prevent, extort money, or just be a burden. But I always loved my child and wanted to be in his life.
  • 2022 - Attempts to move and separation: I tried to move to Bali to please the mother, but faced difficulties, which led to the mother taking Leon to Russia in February 2022 without my consent or knowledge.
  • Attempts at reunification and legal issues: I faced legal and logistical challenges in attempts to reunite with Leon, which led to numerous meetings in Turkey, Finland, and Estonia, but constant issues with custody and travel arose.
  • Custody Incidents: I was involved in various international moves and legal maneuvers to maintain custody of Leon, including fleeing Estonia to Malta in 2022. Anna attacked me in the street and took Leon to the Russian Federation.
  • Subsequent stays in Turkey, Estonia, Finland, France, Indonesia: After numerous international moves, we agreed on a final meeting in France, which led to a temporary reunion but ultimately to separation when Anna returned to Russia with Leon in April 2023.
  • Anna’s Return to Bali in July 2024: After returning to Russia in April 2024, Anna made even more excessive demands for payments and living conditions so that Nick could see Leon. Meanwhile, Nick had a second child born in April and needed to spend time with the child, Max Levenstein, and his mother, Vanda Suwandi. Apparently, Anna had to leave her home in St. Petersburg as her brother, Andrei (the current temporary guardian), returned home drunk and aggressive. At some point, she became homeless and turned to Nick for housing and money. $48,000 in child support payments through direct transfers or expenses due to international financial restrictions on transactions with Russia. By the way, even in 2023, when there was no formal agreement, according to my accountant, I’m not sure what she did with them.

I want to say that while I am very grateful to Anna for Leon, I cannot deceive myself: she was a bit of a psychopath and a criminal. She was arrested in front of my eyes in Finland for theft about a year ago. I literally saw her being taken away after the police refused to allow me to pay her bill. She brutally attacked me after I returned Leon to Malta in 2022, where all three of us had legal residency. If you’re wondering why I didn’t run straight to Russia after her, it’s because I was afraid of her.

Anna's Death and Leon's Abduction by His Uncle

  1. Anna came to Bali with Leon in July 2024, staying at my rented villa and hotel. I noticed a large lump in her chest and strongly advised her to see a doctor; she assured me everything was fine. Below is her photo from October 8, shortly before her presumed death.
  2. Anna demanded that my other child and partner leave Bali, which we couldn’t agree to, as they were citizens of Indonesia. Eventually, we arranged for child support for her move to Bangkok, and she left on November 5.
  3. I announced that I would visit Leon in Bangkok on November 11, but shortly after, Anna blocked all my contacts.
  4. According to third parties, Anna became seriously ill and left Bangkok around November 23.
  5. Andrei met her at the airport and took Leon when she was hospitalized.
  6. Andrei falsely claimed that she was alive during a period when we now know she was already dead. I found out about her death on December 21, by which time Andrei had already applied for temporary guardianship.
  7. Reasons I did not travel to Russia:
    • I didn’t know where Anna was.
    • I was afraid of Anna and her brother due to her statements.
    • Andrei did not disclose Leon's whereabouts and refused to return him.
    • I hired a law firm in December, but could not get details about the case and Leon's whereabouts until February.
  8. See the separate history of interactions with the custody authorities. Essentially, they put obstacles in my way, prevented me from seeing Leon, and handed all my documents to Andrei, the defendant in this case.

View Case Summary in Russian by the First Law Firm

I. Factual Circumstances

Nicholas Levenstein, born June 1, 1967, in the United States, holds an Irish passport № PV5721588. He is the father of the minor Leon Levenstein, born February 27, 2020, birth certificate of the Republic of Malta № 143343 from March 6, 2020. The mother of Leon Levenstein is the late Anna Yuryevna Lyudinovskova.

The current temporary guardian of the child is Andrei Yuryevich Malevanny, Leon Levenstein’s uncle and the brother of the late Anna Yuryevna Lyudinovskova.

II. Nicholas Levenstein Hires Lawyer Roman Meyer to File a Hague Convention Case in April

Nicholas Levenstein – Plaintiff against Defendants, Custody and Malevanny Andrei Yuryevich, born 10.05.1976

III. Status of Appeals to Custody Authorities Regarding Leon Levenstein's Return to His Father, Nicholas Levenstein, as of April 2024

№ Appeal Summary Status
1 Appeal for the return of the child to the parent, January 12, 2024 Describes the factual and legal circumstances of Nicholas's appeal to the Territorial Custody Authority № 5 in Moscow for the return of the child to the parent Response received February 9, 2024, requesting documents, including the father's ID and proof of permanent residence in a foreign country. The request will be sent to competent foreign authorities for information about Nicholas's living conditions.
2 Appeal for assistance in communicating with the minor child, February 27, 2024 Requests custody authorities ensure communication between Nicholas and his son, as the temporary guardian is preventing it, including blocking the birthday video No response
3 Appeal for a meeting with Leon Levenstein, March 6, 2024 States that Nicholas arrived in Moscow and is gathering the necessary documents for the child’s transfer, requesting a meeting with the child at "My Family Center" No response
4 Appeal for an investigation into the temporary guardian, March 14, 2024 Expresses concern about Leon's safety with Andrei Malevanny and requests an investigation into his living conditions, attaching screenshots of correspondence and a video for Leon No response
5 Appeal for the return of the child to the parent, March 15, 2024 A detailed report on the family relationship between Nicholas and Anna, describing all circumstances supporting Nicholas's ability to care for Leon, including 20 supporting documents with notarized translations No response
6 Appeal about obstacles to communication and the inaction of the custody authorities, March 15, 2024 Reports that the temporary guardian is blocking meetings, lying about Nicholas, and requests a meeting with the child No response

These details describe the situation regarding custody and guardianship issues for Leon Levenstein, documenting the efforts of Nicholas Levenstein and the responses (or lack thereof) from the relevant authorities.

IV. Rejection of the Petition to Relocate Leon to Malta under the Hague Convention

On July 16, the court rejected the father’s petition to relocate the child to the Republic of Malta:

Here is a copy of the decision in Russian: Decision in Russian

Here is a copy of the decision translated into English: English Translation of Decision

V. My Lawyers Filed an Appeal Against This Decision on July 19

VI. The Second Lawsuit, Based on Parental Rights and Illegal Transfer

VII. Complaint to the Russian Prosecutor in August 2024

Interview

VIII. Electronic Complaint to the Children's Minister on August 9, 2024

We have not yet received a response to the electronic complaint filed on August 9, 2024.

IX. Waiting for a Response to the Transfer/Visitation Request Filed in July 2024

We are still waiting for a response to the request for transfer or visitation rights for Leon, filed in July 2024. A meeting with the custody authority is scheduled for September 16, 2024, at 3:30 p.m.

X. Complaint Against Andrei Filed with the Department of Labor and Social Protection of Moscow in July 2024

XI. Supporting Documents

Here are documents related to the case, including recommendations from friends and businesspeople, as well as efforts aimed at ensuring a smooth transition for Leon back to Malta, such as enrollment in school and hiring Russian-speaking nannies.

Supporting Documents Folder

Videos of Leon

This is a birthday video for Leon that he never received. The video of Leon starts at the 1:00 mark.

Birthday Video for Leon

This is the Horrible Hostage Video Sent to Me by Andrei in March

Hostage Video from Andrei

Pictures of Leon

Pictures of Leon

November 25th 2024 Complaint to Prosecutor of Criminal Activity by Child Authority

Below is the link to the report regarding the complaint to the prosecutor about criminal activities by the child authority:

November 25th 2024 Complaint to Prosecutor of Criminal Activity by Child Authority