Russian man could lose daughter over anti-war drawing

THE father of a Russian teenager who drew an anti-war picture at school faces having his child taken away from him.

Alexei Moskalev, who has been detained for his own anti-war comments, is accused of shirking parental duties. Child services in the provincial town of Yefremov, 290 kilometres (180 miles) south of Moscow, urged a court to “limit” his parental rights, a volunteer group said yesterday.

More than 100,000 people have signed a petition opposing the move and the court case is the first of its kind in modern Russia.

The family first landed in trouble last April when Maria Moskaleva, 13, was asked in art class to draw something in support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Year 8 student drew a picture showing a woman standing under a Ukrainian flag, shielding her child from Russian rockets.

A court found Mr Moskalev guilty of “discrediting the Russian armed forces”, a vague term that authorities have been using to punish anti-war protesters.

Mr Moskalev is now under house arrest and Maria, whose mother does not have custody of her, is in a temporary child facility. The next court hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.