A Maltese man returned to Malta this evening with his seven-year-old son who had been taken away by his estranged Russian partner.

Anthony Busuttil returned to Malta from Frankfurt after his former partner was stopped at the Czech border yesterday, trying to flee the country, his lawyer Chris Frendo told The Malta Independent.

Mr Busuttil had seen his son once since 1 December, when the mother and son had ran away from the hotel they were staying in Prague.

The Maltese courts have granted Mr Busuttil sole custody of his child.

The woman was stopped by police in the Czech Republic, close to the border with Poland and Belarus yesterday, after she was issued with a restraint order.

Mr Busuttil flew immediately to the Czech border where he was immediately handed over his son Adam.

Maltese court ruling not enough