A Russian schoolgirl who drew an anti-war picture in an art lesson was taken from her dad and put in an orphanage.
Masha Moskaleva, 13, sketched a woman defiantly shielding her child from President Vladimir Putin’s missiles.
The picture featured the Ukrainian flag with “Glory to Ukraine” written on it and the Russian flag with the words “No to war”.
Her art teacher told the principal and he reported it to police in Yefremov, south of Moscow. The school was then visited by officers from the Federal Security Service, independent rights watchdog OVD-Info reported.
Masha’s father Alexei Moskalev – who shared a photo of her holding the picture, adding the words “I am against war” – said: “The officers were waiting for Masha at the entrance, asking all of the students their names.
“My daughter immediately realised what was going on. She managed to slip through. She gave a fake name. She came running home and said, ‘Dad, the police almost caught me – I drew a picture!’
“She was scared and I promised I would come to her school and wait for her until classes were over.”
The next day, single father Alexei was “violently interrogated” by security officers – who sent Masha to an orphanage. The 53-year-old added: “They told me I was raising a child incorrectly.”
Since speaking about their plight, he has been put under house arrest and faces a jail term for “discrediting” the army.
Alyona Agafonova, a volunteer helping the family, said: “He is forbidden to communicate with anyone. He lives alone, so he can’t even go to the store to buy food. No one knows what happened to the girl. She was last seen on March 1.
“I tried to get into the orphanage but they did not let us in. On March 6, I passed a phone to her to have her call me. But I have not heard from her.”
The Kremlin banned statements that “discredit the military” after it invaded Ukraine a year ago. OVD-Info claims 544 children have been held for anti-war protests and at least 19 anti-war teachers have been fired.
