Maria Lvova-Belova: Alexey Moskalev’s daughter Masha to be placed in foster care
Social workers are looking to place Masha Moskaleva with a foster family, due to the criminal prosecution of her father Alexey Moskalev, arrested last week in Belarus after fleeing house arrest. Russia’s Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova told the media about several foster families now being considered for Masha, during a Tuesday press-conference.
Alexey Moskalev has been sentenced to two years in a penal colony, allegedly for social media posts “discrediting” the Russian army and the “special military operation” in Ukraine. The FSB investigated Moskalev after his daughter Masha turned in an antiwar drawing during an art class at the public school.
Lvova-Belova said that she has traveled to the Tula region to meet with Masha Moskaleva at the juvenile shelter where she is now. Masha’s mother Olga Sitchikhina has been estranged from the girl since the child was two. Although Sitchikhina has, apparently, considered picking up her daughter from the shelter, Lvova-Belova says this isn’t very likely to happen. “Mom has promised to come several times, and she didn’t. She doesn’t keep in touch with the girl. They have a complicated relationship,” said the official.
In the coming days, the court will consider limiting both parents in their rights, said Lvova-Belova, without specifying Alexey Moskalev’s current location.
