Children’s Ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova said she would advocate to ensure that the daughter of Andrei Moskalev, who was sentenced to a penal colony for discrediting the Russian army, would live with relatives rather than stay in a social institution.
The Commissioner for the Rights of the Child explained that the girl arrived in Efremov in early March to explore how her rights could be protected and to pursue a family placement. He added that the matter had been discussed with the regional governor, the prosecutor, and other relevant departments.
Lvova-Belova stressed that the actual situation diverges from the media and human rights activists’ portrayal. She noted that the civil and criminal cases are not directly linked.
According to the Ombudsman, Moskalev was fined in April of the previous year for public actions discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. A criminal case followed because he continued to express his views on social networks. In December, Moskalev fled, was arrested for violating a travel ban, and was placed under house arrest with a court order prohibiting contact with anyone, including his daughter. Lvova-Belova stated that she had reviewed the court decision and that neither the defendant nor his lawyer objected to the preventive measures selected.
Since May, the Moskalevs have been registered as a family in a socially dangerous situation. Preventive authorities then moved to limit parenting rights, pursuing civil cases against both parents. Lvova-Belova observed that the father had repeatedly faced administrative penalties for neglecting parental duties: in February of the previous year the girl began missing school, and from April the father stopped visiting, while communication with teachers dwindled.
Regarding the girl’s mother, Lvova-Belova remarked that she had “almost never participated in the life of Masha.” The girl remains on the Social Rehabilitation and Treatment Network (SRTSN) at her request.
“We presented the prevention authorities with additional options to repair the situation. Following our guidance, they stepped up searching for a close support network and attempted to relocate the girl to relatives. Relatives on the paternal side were considered, but so far none have agreed to assume custody of Masha,” the Ombudsman explained.
The Ombudsman also noted that a specialist psychologist from her office evaluated the girl and concluded that Masha misses her father and wishes to visit him.
Earlier, Belarusian internal affairs authorities confirmed the detention of Alexei Moskalev, a resident of the Tula region, at the request of Russian police. Moskalev had previously escaped from house arrest before the verdict was announced. Preliminary information indicates he escaped by tampering with the electronic bracelet.
The court sentenced Moskalev to two years in prison. His daughter, Maria, whom he raised on his own, was placed in a social rehabilitation center as part of the case proceedings. [Citation: Ombudsman office and court documents]