A Russian woman has still not been given back her three children after the supreme court overturned a previous custody decision in favour of the father that she was leading an immoral lifestyle because of her pink hair, tattoos and piercings – and not wearing a hijab.

When the ruling happenedm Nina Tseretilova, 33, from the Republic of Dagestan located in Russia’s North Caucasian Federal District, had not seen her two sons, aged 14 and 8, and daughter, aged 11, since their father took them away following the court ruling in December last year that she was a bad mother because of her non-Islamic lifestyle.

The woman’s battle for her children began when she was pregnant with her third child, and she left her husband, Magomed, taking her two older children with her after he allegedly beat her.

She immediately filed for alimony. However, the couple’s divorce was only finalised four years later, after which Magomed left for the Russian capital Moscow and started a new family.

According to Nina, during the years that followed, Magomed did not visit his children or support them financially.

By last year, Nina believes she was owed some RUB 800,000 (GBP 7,866) by Magomed, none of which she ever received.

When Magomed returned to Dagestan early last year after spending some nine years out of his children’s lives, he abducted the youngsters while their mother was away from home.

After law enforcement intervened, the children were returned to their mother five days later. However, Magomed then started repeatedly taking the children from their school.

Nina believes he wanted to take them to his cramped apartment in Moscow to live with his current pregnant wife, her two children, and their child in common to avoid paying alimony.

Concerned by her ex-husband’s actions, Nina went to court last summer to legally determine the minors’ place of residence. However, she was shocked when the judge decided to grant custody to the children’s father.

A court document obtained by local media said: “From the photographs and videos presented, it follows that N. Sh. Tseretilova leads a lifestyle that does not correspond to the behavioural norms and rules of a mother with many children. Tattoos with inscriptions are depicted on her body.”

The judge in the Muslim-majority region also cited her dyed hair, piercings, and uncovered hair as contributing factors in the verdict.

However, following an appeal, the Supreme Court of Dagestan, a Muslim-majority region, upheld Nina Tseretilova’s appeal and ordered the children returned to their mother.

The 33-year-old mother thanked the court via video link and called the decision a “triumph of justice”, but the celebration proved premature.

Up until recently, only the oldest boy had been returned to his mother, and during the court appearance where she was attempting to get the other two, she then got a call from her brother to say that the older boy had been kidnapped, she believes by her ex-husband, leaving her once again with no children.

Local media Tengrinews.kz recently reported that the mother of three has told police Mukhtar was kidnapped while she was in the city of Makhachkala dealing with the legal case to try and get back the other two children, and believes that her ex-husband is behind the disappearance.

The woman posted a video on her Instagram profile where she said: “My son is missing – Tseretilov Mukhtar. According to our information, he was taken by people connected with his father, Magomed Tseretilov.”

She then added: “Mukhtar was with my brother, who was given a power of attorney to take care of him because I was forced to come to Makhachkala for the endless court sessions.”

Tseretilova fears that her husband plans to take her son abroad.

The father has not made any comments regarding the disappearance of their son or the allegations against him widely reported in local media.