WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The Consulate-General of Russia in San Francisco has confirmed that Denis Flynn, who has accused his adopted US parents of years of sexual abuse, is a Russian citizen.
"A check has confirmed that he [Denis Flynn] is a Russian citizen," a consulate representative told RIA Novosti.
On Wednesday, local media reported that Denis Flynn, 23, allegedly adopted from a Russian orphanage by an American couple from Los Gatos, California, accused his adoptive parents of sexual abuse.
A representative of the Consulate-General of Russia in San Francisco told RIA Novosti on Thursday that Russian diplomats were checking Flynn's background to see if he had indeed been adopted from Russia and to verify that he had Russian citizenship.
Denis Flynn claims he was adopted from a Russian orphanage at the age of 9 and that his adopted father, Ralph Flynn, started forcing him to regularly perform sexual acts soon after, according to San Jose Mercury News. The adopted mother, Carolyn Flynn, reportedly became involved in the abuse when Denis was 15.
The sexual abuse stopped when Denis turned 19, and the victim first told a psychologist about it in 2012. According to San Jose Mercury News, Ralph and Carolyn Flynn were arrested in November. Ralph has reportedly been linked to another abuse allegation involving a boy he adopted in 1972.