The unidentified officials said Victoria Osborne's natural father, Col, Yuri Gladkikh, obtained a Russian court order that allows a divorced parent to prevent their child from leaving the country until they are 18 years old, The Daily Telegraph said.

Osborne's stepfather, Patrick, 52, said the girl's family was shocked by her father's actions, and is prepared to fight for the girl's freedom in court.

"We know it is not going to be easy, but we are determined to get our family back together," he said.

"This order came totally out of the blue."

Osborne had been in Russia with her mother, Tatiana, 34, to visit her grandmother in the city of Saratov.

The Telegraph said Tatiana and Gladkikh are thought to be mired in a legal fight for the ownership of an apartment in the Russian city.