MOSCOW, March 14 - RAPSI. Tory Ann Hansen, the adoptive mother of Artyom Savelyev, has sued Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Pavel Astakhov for criticizing her after she sent her adopted son back to Russia with a “refusal note,” Savyolovsky District Court Press Secretary Vladimir Tarasov told the Russian Legal Information Agency.

“The lawsuit has been registered, but the court has yet to decide if it should be accepted for review,” he said. Tarasov told RAPSI that Hansen wants Astakhov to refute his statements as part of her lawsuit. Tarasov declined to comment further as the court has yet to issue a decision.

Savelyev arrived from Washington to Moscow on April 8, 2010 with a note saying Hansen did not want to mother him as he allegedly had mental problems. The boy spent only half a year with her family. Previously, he lived in the Maritime Territory with his mother. When she was deprived of her parental rights, he spent several years in a children's home.

Astakhov has commented on the situation on many occasions. He said Artyom refuses to recollect his stay in the United States.

“It is clear even now that the child underwent a great deal of stress due to his adoptive mother and she must be held accountable,” Astakhov said.

RAPSI has yet to reach the parties for comment.

The World Association for Children and Parents filed a lawsuit against Hansen, seeking to oblige her to pay 27 percent of her nurse's salary to her abandoned son until he reaches legal age.

Artyom is nine years old now.

Artyom currently lives in the Moscow Region in a large family along with five other children.