A Russian woman has been arrested amid claims she tried to sell her children 'because they were an obstacle for dating men'.

Rasulzhan Kyzy Barnokhon was caught after she tried to sell a week-old baby for £11,500 in the Russian capital, Moscow, police and activists say.

The 23-year-old had come to the capital from the south-western city of Ufa and met her buyers, who collaborated with the police.

After receiving the equivalent of £11,512 for her one-week-old daughter, Barnokhon was arrested.

Rasulzhan Kyzy Barnokhon (left and right with her children) has been arrested amid claims she tried to sell her children 'because they were an obstacle for dating men'

Police say this was the second time the mother had tried to sell her children.

She is said to have made her first such attempt six months ago - on that occasion trying to sell her older daughter, who was just one.

At the time, Barnokhon, who was already pregnant with her third child, posted a message on social media saying: 'Looking for adoptive parents for a one-year-old girl. Moscow.'

The message was spotted by activists at NGO 'Alternativa' who fight human trafficking.

They responded to the post and found out that Barnokhon was going to sell her child.

Alternativa activist Yulia, who pretended to be a buyer, said: 'She [Barnokhon] said that she met a man online and wanted to date him.

'But before that, she wanted to sell her children who, according to her, were an 'obstacle for dating men'.

Rasulzhan Kyzy Barnokhon was caught after she tried to sell a week-old baby for £11,500 in the Russian capital, Moscow, police and activists say

Police say this was the second time the mother had tried to sell her children. She is pictured being accompanied by police

'She was not interested in the further fate of her children and told me that 'after the deal is done, we do not know each other'.

According to activists, Barnokhon had changed her mind and refused to sell her daughter after being talked out of the deal by her relatives.

But six months later, after giving birth to her third child, Barnokhon contacted Yulia, it is claimed.

Russian Investigative Committee spokeswoman Yulia Ivanova said: 'The criminal case on attempted sale of a minor was initiated against the 23-year-old. The suspect faces up to five years in prison if found guilty.'

A statement on the official website of the Russian Investigative committee says: 'The woman wanted one million rubles for her newborn child.

'On March 5, when she was in Moscow, she received the money and handed the baby to a buyer. She also wrote a note confirming that she had received the money for the baby.

'During the police interrogation, the suspect admitted to the crime. There are no threats to the baby's health.'

All Rasulzhan Barnokhon's children are from different men, reports say. The investigation is ongoing.