Lida Moniava, a prominent advocate for caring for critically ill children, has been accused of spreading false information about the military, her lawyer told Russian media on Wednesday. Moniava was arrested following a police search of her home in Moscow that same day and questioned by officials from the Investigative Committee, Russia’s main investigative body. Moscow’s Simonovsky District Court is expected to rule on preventive detention measures, his lawyer told RBC media outlet. The charge of spreading false information about the military carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Moniava is the founder of the Moscow-based charity “Lighthouse,” which runs hospices for seriously ill children and young adults in the Russian capital and the surrounding region. news In photos: Russian students return to school Read more After the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moniava created a foundation that provided shelter, medical supplies, and food to people fleeing war. The organization later also helped Armenians fleeing the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as displaced Russians from the Kursk and Belgorod regions. That foundation suspended operations last September due to the dwindling number of refugees arriving in Moscow and the Moscow region. Moniava was previously detained in January and February. She was fined 45,000 rubles ($520) after being found guilty of “discrediting” the Russian military in posts on Telegram. Despite pressure from the authorities, Moniava has refused to leave Russia. “If I leave, critically ill children will end up in nursing homes and intensive care units for longer periods. Knowing that, I doubt I can live happily in any other country,” he wrote earlier this year. A message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Moscow Times as an “undesirable” organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our previous unfair label as a “foreign agent.” These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim that our work “discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership.” We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate and unbiased information about Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a big difference. If you can, support us monthly from just $2. It’s quick to set up and every contribution has a meaningful impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you are defending open and independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for being with us. Continue Not ready to provide support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you a reminder email within a month. For details about the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy.
