Photo: Ukrinform
In 2022, Miller Law Firm was approached by a client with a request to file a lawsuit to terminate the parental rights of the mother of his children. At first glance, this was an atypical category of cases for us. But there was a story behind this claim that was impossible to ignore.
Yevhen Mezhovyi is a native of Mariupol. During the occupation, he tried to evacuate with his children, but they were detained at a checkpoint: the father was thrown into a Russian prison and the children were deported to Russia. After 45 days of illegal detention, Yevhen was released and began to fight for the return of his children.
He managed to do the impossible – to return the children and take them to a safe place, to Latvia. However, in order to stay within the legal framework and be able to legally take care of them, Yevhen had to file a lawsuit to deprive the mother of her parental rights, who did not take part in the children’s upbringing even after their rescue. We supported this process on a pro bono basis and obtained a decision that granted the father sole custody.
The story of their family and their rehabilitation after all that they had been through became the basis for the documentary After the Rain by Sarah McCartney, a deep, honest film about the deportation of Ukrainian children. The film speaks about the trauma of war, loss, and the power of parental love to heal.
Karina Panchenko, a partner at Miller Law Firm, attended the film’s premiere at the British Ambassador’s residence. As a leader of the Women Leaders for Ukraine community, she had the opportunity to personally thank the director for her important contribution to the coverage of this topic.
“We supported the legal part of this story. But to see it through the eyes of a filmmaker is a completely different level of emotion and depth. This film is another proof of why we have no right to remain silent,” says Karina Panchenko.