dpa
Moscow
A Russian court sentenced the father of a girl who drew an anti-war picture to two years in a penal colony on Tuesday for “repeatedly discrediting the Russian army.” The 54-year-old man, who is a single parent, had escaped his house arrest before sentence was passed, a court spokeswoman said. There was applause in the courtroom in Yefremov to the south of Moscow when news of his escape was announced.
The case drew attention in Russia after the girl was taken to a children’s home on account of her drawing, which shows the Russian and Ukrainian flags, along with the words: “No to War” and “Glory to Ukraine.” The girl, who was 12 at the time, had been asked by her teacher to paint a picture supporting the Russian armed forces in Ukraine.
The school summoned the police. A day later the father was taken to a police station and a fine was imposed.When comments by the girl critical of the war turned up on the internet, his house was searched and criminal proceedings were instigated.
The charges against the man are officially about comments on social networks, where he is alleged to have criticised the invasion. The man denies this and claims his computer was used by others without his knowledge.Independent media reported from the courtroom that the case had turned on incriminating evidence from apparent witnesses. No evidence had been presented, the reports said. Exiled Russian businessman and Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky tweeted on Tuesday: “Alexei Moskalev was sentenced to 2 years in prison. He is being punished for criticising the invasion of Ukraine and for his daughter’s anti-war drawing.” Since the start of the war, Russia has imposed stiffer penalties on those critical of the defence forces.
