Child who painted anti-war picture left home, controversial Kremlin politician says

Maria Moskalyova, whose story went around the world because of an anti-war drawing, apparently was able to leave the orphanage. Kremlin Children’s Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova reports this. Moskalyova, whose father Alexei was convicted of “repeatedly discrediting the Russian army,” was said to live with her mother.

It is unclear how the mother and daughter were reunited. Reuters news agency knows from legal documents that the two have had no contact with each other for a long time. Maria lived with her single father.

Lvowa-Belova says she suggested that Moskalyova move in with her mother. Then she could leave the orphanage. Initially, however, she encountered resistance: “Maria did not want to go to her mother at first,” said the politician. The problem: the girl’s consent is a mandatory requirement, even if she’s a minor.

Eventually things turned around. “Maria’s view on this has changed, she told me herself on the phone,” says Lwowa-Belowa. Soon after, she was taken away from home by her mother Olga. As proof of this, Lwowa-Belowa published a photo of the two. On this, they sit together on a bed, look into each other’s eyes and smile. Why Moskalyova changed her mind remains unclear. Lwowa-Belowa simply says, “I’m happy with the start of the reunion of mother and daughter.”

Marija Lwova-Belowa is considered a controversial politician. In the Kremlin, she currently holds the position of Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights. She would also play an important role in the war in Ukraine: she is suspected of organizing the deportation of Ukrainian children to Ukraine. She herself likes to be photographed when she accompanies Ukrainian children to Russia. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Lvowa-Belowa.

Dad could lose custody

While Maria Moskalyova now appears to be living with her mother, the fate of her father Alexei remains unclear. The 54-year-old fled before the court sentence was handed down – two years in a prison camp – but was captured a few days ago in the Belarusian capital Minsk. His current whereabouts are unclear.

Another trial was set to begin on Thursday in his hometown of Yefremov, in which Moskalyov could lose custody of his daughter for good over his alleged criticism of the war. As the BBC reports, several protesters gathered in front of the courthouse in support of Moskalyov. A woman is said to have held up a sign with the words “Putin eats children”. The hearing was eventually adjourned to April 20. (dab)