Russian boy stabbed in Greece cannot be transported yet - Russian Health Ministry
MOSCOW. May 17 (Interfax) - Nikita Onishchenko, a Russian boy stabbed while on vacation in Greece, cannot be transported to Russia yet, the Russian Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development said.
"The health condition of the injured child is being evaluated to decide on the possibility of medical evacuation to Russia. According to the preliminary information, the boy's current condition does not allow for his transportation to his homeland," the Health Ministry said in a statement obtained by Interfax on Friday.
The statement said that the Health Ministry was in contact with Greek colleagues and Russian diplomats.
"An eleven-year-old Moscow citizen, stabbed while on vacation in Greece, was admitted to a hospital in Athens; he has had surgery," the statement said.
A source in the hospital where the child is being treated has told Interfax that the boy remained critical condition.
"The boy has had surgery, he is in critical condition for now. He is in ICU, stable but he cannot be transported yet," the source said. The issues with the transportation were related to a severe spine injury the boy incurred, the source said.
It has been reported that late on May 5, Onishchenko, who was in Crete on vacation with his mother, was found at the Mitsis Laguna Hotel in Anissaras with multiple stab wounds.
Local police later detained a 20-year-old Dutch citizen, who worked as an animator in the hotel, on charges of attempted murder. The Dutch citizen admitted during questioning that he had stabbed the boy, who had caught him steeling.
On the same day, Onishchenko was brought from Crete to Aglaia Kyriakou Children's Hospital, where he received emergency medical attention.
Doctors said that the state of the child was "serious but stable." According to the Russian Health Ministry's information, Nikita Onishchenko started showing improvement and it is planned to bring him back to Russia.
According to local media reports, Dutch citizen S. Shriver has already been charged with attempted murder, illegal weapon possession and theft.