Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian children’s rights commissioner wanted for war crimes, reportedly marries monarchist media billionaire
Russian Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges for her role in the abduction of Ukrainian children, and Orthodox tycoon Konstantin Malofeev, a self-professed monarchist who runs the pro-Putin media channel Tsargrad TV, were married on Sunday, according to Verstka Media and the Telegram channel Baza. The two “traditional values” advocates were first reported to be in a relationship earlier this summer, though Lvova-Belova had not publicly announced a divorce or separation from her husband, an Orthodox priest with whom she’s raising 10 children.
Russian Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, whom the International Criminal Court (ICC) indicted in 2023 for complicity in the war crime of illegal deportations of children from Ukraine’s occupied territories, married oligarch Konstantin Malofeev, the founder of the pro-Kremlin Christian Orthodox channel Tsargrad TV, in a gated community in the Moscow region on Sunday, according to the independent outlet Verstka. Three sources from the couple’s social circle reportedly confirmed to journalists that the wedding took place.
According to one source cited by Verstka, Lvova-Belova and Malofeev “only welcomed” leaks of the news of their marriage and did not want to have a “secret wedding.” Another source told Verstka that a “fairly large circle of people” knew about the event and were asked only to refrain from posting photos of the bride and groom themselves on social media.
According to the Telegram channel Baza, popular singers Dima Bilan, Grigory Leps, Valeriya, and Leonid Agutin performed at the wedding. (The couple reportedly asked Bilan to remove several songs from his setlist, though the reason for the request is unclear.) The channel Astra noted that Leonid Agutin has previously spoken out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Rumors that the ombudsman and the billionaire were in a relationship first began circulating in late 2023. In mid-July 2024, after they were filmed holding hands, journalists from Verstka spoke to at least six sources who confirmed their romance.
Lvova-Belova has not publicly confirmed that she is divorced or separated from Pavel Kogelman, an Orthodox priest whom she married in 2003. The two frequently appeared in Russia’s propaganda media to speak about their “traditional values,” their Christian faith, and their experience raising numerous children together.
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