Ukraine Offers Guardianship Deal To Elton

Stung by international criticism of their denial of Elton John's request to adopt a baby he met in an orphanage, Ukraine officials are offering Elton a guardianship deal. And, it turns out, the baby does have a mother.

After being branded unsuitable to adopt by Ukrainian officials because of his age and sexuality, Elton John was given new hope yesterday that he could look after the baby boy who won his heart in a Ukrainian children's home. After originally saying the pop star was barred from becoming little Lev's legal guardian, the authorities there have come up with a compromise. The deal would allow Sir Elton to bring up the child in Britain with his partner David Furnish but also involve Lev's mother, who retains parental rights to him. t was unveiled by Ukraine Families Minister Yuri Pavlenko who had previously refused to contemplate the 14-month-old boy's adoption because the 62-year-old pop star was too old and in a same-sex relationship. Last night he said Sir Elton 'has the right and opportunity to invite the family of this boy to visit him, take them under his guardianship, and help him grow into a good person'. He stressed: 'I'd like to ask everyone be tolerant to the boy. This is not an orphan, the child has a mother and an elder brother and so he cannot be adopted by law.

Under the proposed terms, the baby's HIV+ mother would be allowed to visit him at Elton John's home in England.