The Washington Post (WP) reported on the 12th (local time) that the father of a 12-year-old daughter who drew anti-war pictures in Ukraine in Russia was arrested and sent to an orphanage. Here is a summary of the article.
Alexey Moskalyov (53), who lives in Yefremov, Tula region, about 240 kilometers from Moscow, was arrested on charges of repeatedly insulting the Russian military. Russian investigators arrested her sixth-grader daughter Masha Moskalyova’s father in April last year after searching her home for a painting she made at school and a post she posted on social media. Moskalev could face up to three years in prison.
Daughter Masha had her teacher paint a picture honoring the Russians fighting on the front line, but she drew a picture of a Ukrainian woman who stopped a Russian missile from hitting her child, a Ukrainian flag and the phrase “no war.”
Marsha’s teacher immediately reported it to the principal, who notified authorities and the Federal Security Service (FSB) launched an investigation.
Moskalyov was fined $425 (approximately 560,000 won) after caricatures of Russian President Vladimir Putin and remarks in support of Ukraine were found on social media. It was because of the article describing the Russian soldiers as “criminals” of the aggression.
In December of last year, the investigative authorities again indicted Moskalyov for violating the newly enacted Law against Blaming the Military. Moskalyov said investigators searched his house, seized his savings and beat him during interrogation. Since Moskaliev is a single father, his daughter Masha was sent to an orphanage.
In Russia, pro-war hardliners are allowed to blame the military for the failed operation, but those who insist on ending the war face heavy penalties.
Besides Masha, there are many examples where children and parents have been punished. Last October in Moscow, her daughter and mother came under investigation when a school principal reported to authorities a 10-year-old schoolgirl who posted a picture of a “Javelin Saint” as her social media profile picture. It was her Virgin Mary holding a Javelin anti-tank missile.
In the same month, in Yekaterinburg, Urals region, a 5th grade elementary school boy was banned for writing a letter to soldiers telling them not to kill people and to return home.
In March of last year, a sixth grader at a Moscow elementary school was investigated by the police after asking a history teacher why Putin started the war.
Meanwhile, anti-war repression in Russia is getting more and more severe. A bill to increase the sentence to up to 15 years is pending in Congress and is expected to be voted on in the middle of this month.
According to Russian human rights group OVD-Info, 447 people were prosecuted last year for anti-war views and protests. That’s more than 1 per day.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.