Children’s Hospice Founder Arrested and Charged Over ‘War Fakes’

Live updates

1. 11d ago

   Russia charges children's hospice founder Lida Moniava over military posts

   Russian authorities detained Lida Moniava, the founder of the Lighthouse children's hospice, and charged her with spreading false information about the Russian military. Moniava faces up to 10 years in prison for social media posts that condemned the war and mourned Ukrainian civilian deaths. A court has since imposed restrictions on her, including a curfew. Amnesty International described the detention as an attack on freedom of expression, while Human Rights Watch identified Moniava as Russia's best-known children's palliative care advocate.

   Why it matters

   Russia has used laws against discrediting the army to target critics and activists since the invasion of Ukraine. This case highlights the risk faced by civil society leaders who provide essential healthcare services. Moniava's work focused on palliative care for terminally ill children.

   What is confirmed

   • Lida Moniava is the founder of a children's hospice.
   • Russian authorities charged Moniava with spreading false information about the military.
   • Moniava faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years.
   • A Russian court imposed restrictions and a curfew on Moniava.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The charges stem specifically from a 2023 post mourning Ukrainian civilian deaths.
   • Authorities searched Moniava's home as part of a case over discrediting the Russian army.

   What to watch next

   • Trial proceedings and the final verdict on the false information charges
   • Potential impact on the operations of the Lighthouse children's hospice
   • Official response from the Russian Ministry of Defense regarding the specific posts
   Sources used for this update (13)

   1. The Moscow Times — Children’s Hospice Founder Arrested and Charged Over ‘War Fakes’
   2. The Jerusalem Post — Russian hospice founder charged with allegedly spreading misinformation
   3. Meduza — Founder of Russian children’s hospice charged with spreading ‘fakes’ about the Russian military. She faces up to 10 years in prison.
   4. ua.news — Russia says it has detained children’s hospice founder Lida Moniava
   5. The Straits Times — Russia arrests children’s hospice director over army criticism
   6. Global Banking & Finance Review — Russia charges children's hospice chief with spreading false war information
   7. Amnesty International — Russia: Detention of charity leader Lida Moniava for anti-war social media posts a brazen attack on freedom of expression
   8. theins.press — Head of children’s hospice Lidia Moniava has her home searched in case over “discrediting” Russian army
   9. reuters.com — Russian court imposes restrictions on children's hospice chief charged over war posts
   10. Meduza — Russia charges a children’s hospice founder with spreading ‘fakes’ about the military over a post condemning the war. She faces up to 10 years in prison.
   11. France 24 — Russia slaps curfew on charity director over army criticism
   12. Mediazona — Lights out. Head of Russia’s leading children’s hospice Lighthouse arrested over 2023 post mourning Ukrainian civilian deaths
   confidence 95%