In Washington, Emile Foundation Presents FOUND. NOT HOME., Its First Investigation Report

Last week in Washington, Emile Foundation presented FOUND. NOT HOME. — our first independent humanitarian investigation report — alongside testimony from the mothers and a grandmother still searching for the children and grandchild taken from them.

They came with a report and a request. The report is FOUND. NOT HOME., Emile Foundation’s first humanitarian investigation, launched during the visit. It reconstructs the full journey of the children and vulnerable adults removed from the Oleshky Children’s Boarding School — their removal by Russian forces, repeated transfers through occupied territory, and placement in institutions, families and facilities inside Russia. It also sets out what happens after someone is found: identities changed, families separated, legal obstacles raised, and verified cases left with no reliable route home.

The request was simpler. Help us bring them home.

On CNN. Mariam Lambert joined Jake Tapper on The Lead. “We know who they are, we know where they are,” she said — but finding a child “is 5 percent of the work.” Beside her, Hanna Zamyshliaieva spoke about her son Anton, 24, who has multiple disabilities and needs specialised care. “I really do not understand why my son can’t be returned to me.”

On Newsmax. Hanna spoke again, at length, with Tracy Sabol. We found Anton. His mother is ready. The evidence is ready.

On Capitol Hill. Congressman Joe Wilson hosted our delegation for a press conference. The mothers met Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator Amy Klobuchar and Congressman Tom Suozzi.

At the Atlantic Council. We met the Eurasia Center — Ambassador John Herbst, Deputy Director Shelby Magid and Nonresident Senior Fellow Katerina Sedova — and discussed the role of independent civil society and trusted third-country intermediaries.

At Johns Hopkins SAIS. The delegation joined “Voices of Ukraine: Testimonies on the Unlawful Transfer of Ukrainian Children”, with Professors Edward P. Joseph and Steven M. Schneebaum on the international law, and the mothers on what it costs a family.

At the National Endowment for Democracy. Three questions we keep returning to: how to preserve evidence for accountability, how to build a safe route home for someone whose location is known, and how to make sure the people most affected are heard in decisions about their own future.

Our thanks to Blue Star Strategies and Dewey Square Group, whose work made sure the mothers were heard by people who can act.

Of the 84 taken from Oleshky, 13 have returned home. That is the number that matters, and it is the one we intend to change.