DNA test proves mystery girl parents

25 October 2013 Last updated at 12:26 ET

DNA tests have confirmed a Bulgarian Roma couple as the biological parents of mystery child Maria, found in Greece last week, Bulgarian officials say.

They identified the couple as Sasha Ruseva and Atanas Rusev.

The officials are investigating whether the mother had sold the child - a claim she has denied.

Maria was found at a Roma camp in central Greece. Police noticed the lack of resemblance between the blonde girl and the adults she was staying with.

The couple, Christos Salis and Eleftheria Dimopoulou, have since been charged with child abduction. They have insisted the girl was given to them legitimately.

Maria - who was found near Farsala, central Greece - is currently being cared for by the Athens-based charity The Smile of the Child.

"The issue took international dimensions but the way it was covered raises questions regarding how the state addresses the phenomena of racism and xenophobia. It is striking that the suspected culprits were not presented as persons accused of the actual deed - what was highlighted was their ethnic background." Dimitris Zachos, Greek university lecturer, http://www.tvxs.gr web TV

"Now let's suppose that Maria was not a blonde angel with green eyes and alabaster skin but dark-skinned, slightly short and bit chubby, maybe with a physical imperfection. Would the story sell that much on media? Is a blonde drama equal to a dark-haired one? Is a dark-skinned child less abused? Are tragedies assorted to race?" Elena Akrita, journalist, Ta Nea newspaper

"There are many losing from the development of the story. Not that they care a lot, though. They'll be waiting for the next story, to prove their racist and intolerant theories, wondering "what has happened to this world where there are blonde Roma"? There are blonde Roma, just as there are dark-skinned amongst the advocates of the Nazi "Aryan race" theory. Niko Ago, journalist, http://www.protagon.gr website

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DNA test proves mystery girl parents