1 of 2 drawing made by 13yearold Russian Masha Moskaleva in the classroom. — Photo: social networks Drawing made in the classroom by 13yearold Russian Masha Moskaleva. — Photo: social networks
The judiciary reports that the man, who was already under house arrest, is on the run and the girl may have to go to an orphanage.
The case sparked widespread outrage in Russia for weeks and has become one of the symbols of ruthless repression against people opposing the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine’s country more than a year ago.
This Tuesday, the court in Efremov, 300 km south of Moscow, announced that the accused Alexei Moskaliov, who has been under house arrest since March 1, has disappeared.
“The verdict was read out in the defendant’s absence because he disappeared and did not appear at the hearing,” said the court’s communications officer, Elena Mikhaïlovskaïa.
Shortly before, The court found Moskaliov, 54, guilty of “discrediting” the Russian armed forces. He was sentenced to two years in prisonSentence demanded by the public prosecutor’s office the day before.
That added the press service of the court he had run away the night beforeand his lawyer, Vladimir Bilienko, said he last saw him on Monday (27).
2 of 2 The war between Russia and Ukraine just ended a year ago. — Photo: EPA The war between Russia and Ukraine recently turned one year old. — Photo: EPA
Drawing at school
The affair began when Alexei’s daughter, Maria Moskaliova, a 13yearold high school student, made a drawing in class showing rockets heading towards a woman and child with a Ukrainian flag.
In connection with the prosecution of voices criticizing the offensive in Ukraine The principal immediately alerted the police.
During the investigation into the father, authorities said they found online posts criticizing the operation in Ukraine, which brought him to court for “discrediting the Russian military”. Moskaliov was then placed under house arrest and his daughter placed in foster care and deprived of all contact with her father.
Another trial, beginning April 6, will decide the fate of the family. Alexei Moskaliov is at risk of being permanently deprived of parental care.
Her lawyer said Tuesday Maria Moskaliova had been placed under guardianship and could be “sent to an orphanage within a month”.
As a sign of outrage at the case, an online petition has been launched to demand the child’s return to the father, despite pressure from the authorities. Even the head of the Russian paramilitary Wagner group, Yevgeny Prigoyine, whose men are fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, supported Maria and criticized the local authorities.
The case shows the scale of the Kremlinorchestrated repression parallel to the conflict in Ukraine. Shortly after the offensive began, in February 2022, Russia introduced a series of criminal sanctions to quell any form of criticism of the army. Many celebrities or ordinary people opposed to the war have already been arrested and convicted.