Single father jailed for anti-war posts reunited with daughter after release from Russian prison

A Russian man who was jailed for anti-war posts he made on social media was released from prison on Tuesday after completing his sentence, Russian human rights group OVD-Info reported. 

Alexey Moskalyov, who was sentenced to two years in prison for “discrediting the Russian army” in March 2023, was met by his teenage daughter Maria upon his release from a penal colony in central Russia’s Tula region.

Moskalyov was first investigated by the authorities after his daughter drew an anti-war picture at school, after which his posts condemning the war in Ukraine came to light, a criminal case was opened against him, and he was placed under house arrest.

In March 2023, having fled house arrest, Moskalyov attempted to flee Russia via Belarus, but was recaptured the following day in Minsk. Before being extradited back to Russia, Moskalyov was reportedly subjected to beatings by the Belarusian security forces.

After Moskalyov’s arrest, Maria, then aged 12, was initially sent to a children’s home before going to live with her estranged mother. She regularly wrote letters to her father in prison, calling him her “hero”.

While incarcerated, Moskalyov was placed in solitary confinement at least five times, OVD-Info reported.

Speaking to reporters following his release from prison on Tuesday, Moskalyov urged news outlets to continue to support Russian political prisoners. “You cannot abandon those who are now in the same position that I was, who were charged for political reasons. They need your support too,” he said.