Russia’s Internal Affairs Ministry investigates renowned Russian child psychologist for ‘discrediting the army’

The Russian Internal Affairs Ministry has drawn up an administrative protocol against child psychologist and best-selling author Lyudmila Petranovskaya for “discrediting the Russian army,” reports TASS, citing law enforcement sources. Authorities are currently working to ascertain her whereabouts.

The case follows a July 2023 request from social activist Vitaly Borodin to investigate Petranovskaya for alleged foreign funding and anti-army statements, which he said date back to 2014. Borodin, known for writing denunciations, claimed Petranovskaya said there was “no threat to the Russian language” in Ukraine, criticized the “special military operation,” and received funding from U.S. and British groups which, in his opinion, means she should be declared a “foreign agent.”

Petranovskaya is the author of several best-selling books on child-rearing and adoption and is the founder of the Family Development Institute. She is a frequent guest on YouTube channels about child psychology and relationships, and her interview with Ksenia Sobchak garnered over two million views.

The Internal Affairs Ministry has not officially commented on the matter, and no materials relating to the case have been submitted to Moscow courts. Petranovskaya has yet to respond publicly to the charges.