- By Steve Rosenberg
- Russia Editor, Yefremov
Masha Moskaleva has actually not been seen in public considering that 1 March
In the centre of the Russian town of Yefremov is a wall covered in images of war. Giant photos of masked Russian soldiers with weapons and supersized letters Z and V – signs of the nation’s so-called unique military operation in Ukraine.
To tear the skin from those
This is the authorities, patriotic photo of Russia’s intrusion of Ukraine.
But in this town, 320km (200 miles) south of Moscow, you’ll discover another picture of the Ukraine war. An extremely various one.
Town councillor Olga Podolskaya reveals me an image on her smart phone. It’s of a kid’s illustration. To the left is a Ukrainian flag with the words “Glory to Ukraine”, on the right, the Russian tricolour and the engraving “No to war!”. As rockets fly in from the instructions of Russia, a mom and her kid stand certainly in their course.
Image source, Olga Podolskaya
Masha’s school called the cops after the 12-year-old drew this image
The image was attracted April 2022 already 12-year-old Masha Moskaleva. Her daddy Alexei, a single parent, had actually gotten in touch with the town councillor for recommendations. He informed her that after seeing Masha’s illustration, her school had actually called the cops.
“The cops began examining Alexei’s social networks,” Olga informs me. “And they informed him that he was raising his child in a bad method.”
Charges followed. For an anti-war post on social networks, Alexei was fined 32,000 roubles (around $415 or £338 at the time) for discrediting the Russian militaries. A couple of weeks earlier, a criminal case was opened versus him. Again, anti-war posts formed the basis for discreditation charges.
This time Alexei deals with a possible jail sentence.
Alexei is presently under house arrest in Yefremov. His child Masha has – in the meantime – been sent to a kids’s home. Alexei has actually not even been enabled to talk to her on the phone.
“No-one has actually seen Masha considering that 1 March,” Olga Podolskaya informs me, “regardless of our efforts to get access to the kids’s home and to discover how she is.
“The Russian authorities desire everybody to toe the line. No-one is enabled to have their own viewpoint. If you disagree with what somebody believes, then do not read their social networks posts. But do not put that individual under house arrest and their kid in a kids’s home.”
We are standing outside an apartment or condo block in Yefremov. A window opens and a man watches out. It’s Alexei. We’re not enabled to interact with him. Under the guidelines of his house arrest Alexei is just allowed contact with his legal representative, the private investigator and the penitentiary service.
Alexei Moskalev is being held under house arrest and deals with a possible jail sentence over his social networks posts
The legal representative, Vladimir Biliyenko, has actually simply gotten here. He’s concern provide food and beverage which regional activists have actually purchased for Alexei.
“He is extremely concerned since his child is not with him,” Vladimir informs me after going to Alexei Moskalev. “Everything in the flat advises him of her. He’s concerned about what might be taking place to her.”
I ask the legal representative why he believes the authorities have actually taken Masha away.
“If they had genuine concerns for the daddy, they need to have welcomed him to offer a declaration. They need to have welcomed Masha, too, and spoken with her,” Vladimir says.
“None of this was done. They simply chose to send her off [to the children’s home]. In my viewpoint, if it wasn’t for the sort of administrative and criminal charges Alexei has actually gotten, this would not be taking place. The social services appear consumed with this family. I believe it’s simply for political factors. The family’s issues just started after the lady drew that image.”
On the street, I ask Alexei’s neighbours what they think about the scenario.
“She’s a good lady, and I’ve never ever had an issue with the papa,” says pensioner Angelina Ivanovna. “But I’m terrified to state anything. I’m terrified to.”
“Perhaps we might gather signatures in [Alexei’s] assistance,” a younger female recommends. But when requested her viewpoint on what is taking place, she responds: “Sorry, I can’t inform you.”
I ask if she is scared about possible effects.
It’s a brief walk from Alexei Moskalev’s apartment or condo block to School No 9, where Masha had actually studied which her daddy says called the cops over Masha’s anti-war illustration. The school has yet to react to our composed ask for remark. When we attempted to go to, we were informed we could not can be found in. Our phone conversation went unanswered.
But I have actually gone to School No 9’s website. The images there advise me of the patriotic wall I saw in the centre of town.
The home page functions Heroes of the Special Military Operation – 2 lots pictures of Russian soldiers who combated in Ukraine.
There are patriotic mottos, too: “Everything for Victory. Let’s support our lads on the cutting edge!”
Soldiers back from Ukraine gone to School No 9 last October. In а speech that day school director Larisa Trofimova stated: “We think in ourselves and in our Motherland, which can never ever slip up.”
Across town, fans of the Moskalev family and reporters are collecting at the regional court house. The Yefremov Juvenile Affairs Commission is taking legal action to formally limit Alexei’s adult rights.
An advocate of Alexei Moskalev raises an indication at the regional court that checks out: “Return Masha to her daddy!”
It’s a preliminary hearing called “a discussion” with the judge. Lawyer Vladimir Biliyenko says Alexei had actually wished to be here personally. However he hasn’t been enabled to disrupt his house arrest to come to court, despite the fact that what’s at stake is access to his kid.
In the court house passage an activist unfurls a poster.
“Return Masha to her daddy!” it states. A law enforcement officer informs her to take it down.
The Juvenile Affairs Commission has yet to react to our demand to discuss the case of Alexei Moskalev and his child Masha.
One of Alexei’s fans, Natalya Filatova, thinks the story of the Moskalev family shows the crackdown on dissent in Russia.
“Our constitution declares flexibility of speech, flexibility of conscience, overall flexibility for people to express their viewpoints,” Natalya informs me. “But now we’re prohibited from doing that.”
