Children’s Hospice Founder Detained in Moscow Over War ‘Fakes’

Lida Moniava, a well-known advocate for the care of critically ill children, has been detained in Moscow over allegations of spreading false information about the military, according to her attorney who spoke to Russian media on Wednesday. The arrest occurred after a police search of her home in Moscow earlier that day, followed by questioning by officials from Russia’s top investigative body, the Investigative Committee.

The case is set to be reviewed by Moscow’s Simonovsky District Court to determine pre-trial detention measures, her attorney informed the news outlet RBC. In Russia, the charge of spreading false information about the military can result in up to ten years of imprisonment. Moniava is the founder of the Moscow-based charity "Lighthouse," which provides hospices for seriously ill children and young adults in the capital and surrounding areas of Russia.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moniava established a foundation to offer refuge, medical supplies, and food to those fleeing the war. The organization later assisted Armenians fleeing conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and Russians displaced from the Kursk and Belgorod regions. However, the foundation ceased operations in September due to a decline in the number of refugees arriving in Moscow and the Moscow region.

Moniava had been detained previously in January and February, facing a fine of 45,000 rubles ($520) for being found guilty of "discrediting" the Russian military in posts on Telegram. Despite the pressure from authorities, Moniava has refused to leave Russia, stating, "If I leave, critically ill children will end up in nursing homes and intensive care units for longer periods. Knowing that, I doubt I could live happily in some other country."