Headteacher chained up adopted son, 8, every day before work
Police arrested Anna Zhitnik after she allegedly kept her son prisoner (Picture: ICTV /Police) A sc..
A school principal has been accused of torturing her adopted eight-year-old son.
Police arrested Anna Zhitnik, 56, at work after breaking into her home in Dnipro, Ukraine, and apparently finding Stas chained to an armchair by his neck and blindfolded.
He was also said to be on the floor with his arms and legs bound and duct tape around his mouth.
Authorities were tipped off by Zhitniks concerned neighbours after they were shown pictures of the alleged torture by her adopted kids.
The school teacher also took in three other children aged four, six and 13.
Tatiana, who lives next door, said: The kids said their mother kept Stas constantly chained up as a punishment for speaking loudly.
We called the police.
All the children were removed from the property and are now being rehabilitated at a centre.
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Stas was also seen by medical doctors.
Psychologist Maria Atroshkina claimed the children were regularly abused by Zhitnik and she would chain them up or hit them with a special stick if they hopped around.
She added: The kids are very attached to each other. They constantly hug and kiss each other. They are very affectionate.
None of them wants to reunite with the mother. They are afraid of her.
Prosecutor Andriy Krasikov said Zhitniks daughter Mira, 13, accused her of chaining Stas up every time she went to work.
He added during a court hearing on August 27 the boy was bruised as a result of the alleged abuse from his mum.