Fetuses Dumped In Russia May Have Been Intended For Research

Fetuses dumped in Russia may have been intended for research < br />

2012-07-26 08:26:05 GMT+7 (ICT)

YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA (BNO NEWS) -- Nearly 250 human fetuses which were discovered in the Urals region of Russia late last week may have been intended to be used for scientific research, police said on Wednesday. A criminal investigation is still ongoing.

The fetuses, which were stuffed inside four barrels alongside a ravine in a forest near Yekaterinburg, the capital city of Sverdlovsk Oblast, were first discovered on late Sunday evening by local residents. Police had initially said the barrels contained approximately 50 fetuses, but officials confirmed Tuesday they contained 248 fetuses.

Police investigating the discovery believe the fetuses, which were between 14 and 26 weeks old and preserved with formaldehyde, may have been intended for scientific research. It is unclear whether they were dumped by a hospital or the research facility, but a police spokesperson said there is evidence to suggest they were dumped by a research facility.

Reports said the fetuses had tags with their identities and identification numbers.

Russian legislation allows women to terminate pregnancy until the 12th week, but later-term abortions can be carried out for medical reasons or if the pregnancy is the result of rape. Some Russian lawmakers have speculated the fetuses may have come from a medical facility practicing illegal abortions, a possibility authorities have not yet excluded.

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