Russian girl who drew anti-war picture leaves orphanage with mother

A law enforcement officer stands in the corridor of a court building before the hearing on the case of Russian citizen Alexei Moskalyov, who is accused of discrediting the country's armed forces in the course of Russia-Ukraine military conflict, in the town of Yefremov in the Tula region, Russia, April 6, 2023. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

A Russian girl who was sent to an orphanage after drawing an anti-war picture, for which her father was convicted for discrediting the armed forces, has been collected by her mother who has not lived with the family for at least seven years.

Russia introduced severe punishments for discrediting the armed forces after President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, laws that have snared dissidents, journalists, actors, musicians and even comedians.