Moskalyov Family Lives in France After Anti-War Painting

Alexei Moskalyov, who was persecuted in Russia over an anti-war painting, and his daughter Masha received political asylum in France in July 2026. They currently live in France.

The story began four years ago, when the school principal reported 12-year-old Masha Moskalyova to the authorities over an "anti-Russian" painting. The homework assignment depicted a woman protecting a small child from Russian missiles, along with a Ukrainian flag inscribed "Glory to Ukraine!" and a Russian flag inscribed "No to war!"

Now 16, Masha recalls in an interview with Novaya Gazeta Europe: "One day we had an art lesson at school. The teacher told us to draw something political, even though this was usually forbidden. He asked us to draw something that would show our support for the army, the war and the president". Her classmate became interested in her work and informed the teacher, and then the principal. Two days later, the police also got involved in the case.

The investigation launched at one of the schools in the Russian city of Efremov soon reached Masha's father, Alexei Moskalyov. At that time, he was openly criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine on social media. According to the Russian human rights organization OVD-Info, Alexei was physically assaulted during interrogations.

After a lengthy investigation, pretrial detention and a forcible search of his home, the court sentenced Alexei Moskalyov to two years in prison on charges of "discrediting" the Russian army. He was sent to a correctional colony in Tula Oblast. According to the final decision of the appeals court, he spent one year and ten months in prison. During this period, his daughter first stayed in a children's shelter and then with her mother, with whom she had had no contact for years.

Alexei describes the conditions in prison: "They found countless reasons to punish me; sometimes I did not address the guards properly, sometimes I did not hold my hands correctly or something similar. As I understood it, they received a call from the FSB and were instructed to put pressure on me". He says he often had to sleep on the bed frame without a mattress, wrapping a thin blanket over his head to protect himself from rat bites and possible infections.

In 2024, shortly after the mobilization, father and daughter left Russia and traveled to Armenia. From there they tried to obtain a humanitarian visa for Germany, but without success. They then submitted documents to the French embassy and, after about one and a half months, flew to France in March 2026 with a visa they had received.

The Moskalyovs say that neither of them wants to continue the case against the Efremov authorities. Masha says that returning to Russia will only be possible for them once something changes at the highest level, though she doubts this will happen in the near future.