Mystery in Russia: His daughter drew an anti-war drawing, was accused of treason and disappeared hours before sentencing

Alexei Moskalyov, a Russian single father, had been under house arrest since March 1. Since that day, her daughter Maria Moskaleva (13 years old) has been hospitalized in a juvenile institution. The reason? An “anti-war” design. that the girl had done at school and who had opened an investigation against her father, accused of discrediting Putin’s army. Tuesday he would have received the sentence, but he did not appear in court and it is not known where it is.

“The verdict was read in the absence of the defendant, because Escaped and did not appear at the hearing,” said Elena Mikhailovskaya, head of the court’s communications service. A little earlier, the court found him guilty of “discredited” the Russian military through posts on his social networks and had sentenced him to two years in prisonthe penalty requested by the prosecutor.

The exact circumstances of his disappearance have not been disclosed at this time. According to a court press officer, “he fled the night before”according to a video broadcast by Russian media.

At the trial, which lasted just one day and concluded on Monday, Moskalyov denied the allegations and insisted he had nothing to do with the anti-war messages appearing on his social media.

His lawyer, Vladimir Biliyenko, told the press that after Monday’s hearing he learned of his client’s disappearance during Tuesday’s hearing.

The “anti-war” design.

Moskalyov was tried in his home town of Yefremov, some 300 kilometers south of Moscow. The case was turned on its head when he escaped house arrest on Monday night, prosecution authorities said, which is why he was not in court. worn a bracelet who controlled their movements, but apparently he took it off

The story dates back to last year, when Moskalyov’s daughter drew a picture at school. “Glory to Ukraine!”, was one of the sentences written on the side. On the other, a Russian flag with the legend. “Not to war!”. In addition, there were missiles launched by Russia and aimed at Ukraine, with a mother and her daughter standing in the way in the path.

The school principal alerted the police, who launched an investigation and located alleged comments from his father on social media against the offensive in Ukraine.

In April last year, Moskalyov was fined for such expressions. His apartment was raided in December and a criminal case was opened against him this month. He has been positioned under house arrest and her daughter taken to a juvenile institution.

The town of Yefremov displays graffiti in support of the military campaign in a patriotic way, as seen across the country, but even the residents are shocked by the story of this father and daughter.

The case has become a symbol of repression against those who oppose the military operation launched over a year ago against Ukraine. Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner paramilitary group that took part in the Russian offensive, also expressed his support for Maria and criticized the local authorities for his actions.

Amnesty’s harsh report

This Tuesday, Amnesty International (AI) denounced in its annual report the increased repression in Russia of dissidents who oppose the Russian military campaign in Ukraine and other human rights violations.

“In their relentless crackdown on dissent, the authorities have introduced harsh additional restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” the NGO said.

According to AI, Russian police “has disrupted peaceful anti-war protests and drafts, often using excessive force.” In those acts they were arrested more than 19,400 peopleincluding journalists covering the protests.

“Most faced heavy fines or administrative detention periods,” he added.

Measures against dissent have also led to the cancellation of concerts, exhibitions and other events by cultural figures who have expressed ideas contrary to the official line.

Amnesty recalls that a month after the fighting began in Ukraine, Russia passed new legislation that criminalizes the “discrediting” of the Russian armed forces and the “deliberate dissemination of false information” about them.

And he warns that as of December, there were more than 100 and 180 criminal cases open, respectively, for one charge and another, and at least 5,518 administrative cases for “discrediting”.