Russian investigators have dropped a criminal case against Lida Moniava, founder of the Lighthouse children's hospice, after determining her actions did not constitute a crime. Moniava had been charged with spreading false information about the Russian armed forces' actions in Ukraine. The decision marks a rare apparent reversal by authorities enforcing wartime censorship laws.
The decision to drop charges against Lida Moniava represents a rare instance of Russian authorities reversing course on a wartime censorship case, offering a glimmer of hope for individuals facing prosecution for expressing anti-war sentiments.
Russian investigators have dropped a criminal case against Lida Moniava, founder of the Lighthouse children's hospice, after determining her actions did not constitute a crime. The decision, announced Tuesday, is a rare apparent reversal by authorities enforcing stringent wartime censorship laws.
Moniava was briefly detained in September and charged with deliberately spreading false information about the actions of Russian armed forces against Ukrainian civilians. She denied the charge and was placed under pre-trial restrictions. Her charity, Lighthouse, continued its work supporting critically ill children and young people in the Moscow region.
A group set up to support Moniava announced the news on Telegram, calling it a "miracle" and thanking supporters, including "heroic patients from Lighthouse who came to support Lida at the court in wheelchairs and with ventilators." Her lawyer confirmed that investigators had informed him of the case's dismissal, according to Russian news agencies.
Moniava had publicly criticized the war in Ukraine on Telegram, calling it a crime that must end. According to Russian rights group OVD-Info, more than 1,380 people have faced criminal prosecution for expressing anti-war views since the full-scale invasion began, with approximately 350 currently in prison or pre-trial detention.
Pick the topics you care about. Get only what matters, on your cadence.