MOSCOW, November 11 (RAPSI) - The Moscow City Court will consider on November 20 Russian father Ilya Neustadt’s challenge to an earlier ruling obliging him to return to his former wife Rachel Neustadt two boys that are currently living with him in Russia, according to the official court website.

A statement on Ms. Neustadt’s advocacy website reads: “On 24 October 2013 the case was to be decided in Russia. Following a 10-minute hearing, however, Rachael faced a set-back when the Moscow Court of Appeal accepted a welfare document presented by the father, including documentary evidence of his rented apartment in Moscow and arguments as to why the children should remain with him in Russia, including reasons such as that the paternal grandmother said she is very happy to raise her grandchildren.”

The English High Court has ordered the boys’ immediate release to Britain, the statement explains. Ms. Neustadt has turned to an international treaty that only recently entered into force in Russia in hopes of compelling the return of her young sons. The statement explains that Ms. Neustadt filed an application under the convention with the Moscow City Court, seeking the direct enforcement of the English High Court’s return orders.

Meanwhile, both boys have been placed on the Interpol missing persons list.

With regard to the most recent setback, Neustadt said in the statement: “I wish I could hold the boys in my arms. I love and miss them so much and so does their baby brother, Meir. I am devastated that there have been further delays, but am hopeful that the Russian courts will justly consider this matter and return the children back home soon.”

The boys, Daniel and Jonathan, were both born in Switzerland before the family relocated to London in January 2011. Daniel holds a Russian passport and an expired US passport. Jonathan holds German, Russian, and American passports.

Two months following the family's move, in March 2011, the boys' mother Rachael Neustadt initiated the proceedings presently underway against her former husband Ilya Neustadt with an application for a non-molestation order, a court order prohibiting the use of violence and harassment.

The order was sought due to Ms. Neustadt having been a victim of domestic violence. She was then accommodated with the children in a shelter. Ms. Neustadt had been granted sole residence of the children and that a hearing had been scheduled for January 13, 2013 to determine the progression of contact rights between the boys and Mr. Neustadt.

It had allegedly been agreed that the boys would visit their father in Russia for Christmas, and that they would then return to their mother's care on January 7, 2013. The boys, however, did not return as planned.