By Steve Rosenberg Russia Editor-in-Chief & Paul Kirby, London, BBC News
image provided, Olga Podolskaya
Masha’s painting last year shows a woman and a child under the Ukrainian flag saying ‘no’ to incoming missiles from Russia.
A Russian court has sentenced a man to two years in prison for repeatedly criticizing the Russian military on social media. The man’s 13-year-old daughter was reported to police last year for drawing an anti-war painting at school.
Defendant Alexei Moskarev, 53, did not appear at the sentencing hearing today. A Yevmolev court spokesman said Moskarev was under house arrest but escaped.
Moskarev’s lawyer, Vladimir Vilienko, told the BBC he did not know his whereregardings.
Moskarev, who lives in Yevmolev, regarding 200 miles south of Moscow, was just one of those jailed for criticizing the Russian military. But earlier this month authorities made the decision to separate his daughter Masha from Moskarev, which drew international attention. Masha’s mother does not live nearby and is separated from her father and son.
Masha was placed in a children’s home when the trial began.
According to Yefremov town councilor Olga Podolskaya, the Moskarev family’s misfortune began in April last year when Masha’s school reported to the police regarding Masha’s drawings. Masha painted a Ukrainian flag with the words “Glory to Ukraine”, rockets flying from Russia and a Russian flag with the words “No War”.
Moskarev said he contacted Podolskaya last year to discuss the pressure he and his daughter were under.
Moskarev initially paid a fine for comments he posted on social media last year regarding the war. However, in December last year, his home was raided and indicted.
“It’s a shock,” Podolskaya said.
“It was even more shocking to hear that Mr. Moskarev had escaped. I hope he is safe and nothing happened.”
Alexei Moskarev was placed under house arrest following being charged with criticizing the Russian military
Russian human rights group Memorial has accused Moskarev of being a political prisoner. The Memorial itself has been disbanded under pressure from the Russian government.
The BBC visited Mr Moskarev’s apartment earlier this month, but was denied a visit. Lawyer Vilienko said Moskarev was very worried regarding being separated from Masha.
Masha will be officially taken care of by Yefremov’s Social Welfare Service. The local Youth Affairs Commission has already taken legal action to limit Moskarev’s custody. A preliminary hearing was held last week, but Moskarev was not allowed to appear because he was under house arrest.
On the 28th, Mr. Bilienko visited the children’s facility where Masha was placed before the sentencing hearing. However, the director said that Masha was going to a culinary festival. Instead, he was given a letter and two drawings that Masha had written to his father. “My father is my hero,” he said in the letter, according to Russian website Sotavision.
Mr. Bilienko has since released the painting in court.
Moskarev appeared in court on the 27th. Court spokeswoman Olga Zachuk said Moskarev escaped from house arrest overnight. After he was sentenced, she said he was supposed to be in custody.