Russia: Detention of charity leader Lida Moniava for anti-war posts a brazen attack on freedoms
Reacting to the detention of Lidiya (Lida) Moniava, a Russian civil society activist and prominent charity leader, for alleged “dissemination of false information” about the Russian Armed Forces, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:
“The criminal case against Lida Moniava is yet another brazen attempt by Russia’s authorities to crackdown on any expression of anti-war sentiment. This assault on one of Russia’s most prominent charity leaders is designed to silence not only her, but the entire civil society.”
“The Russian authorities must immediately end the criminal prosecution of Lida Moniava for peacefully exercising her right to freedom of expression. They must repeal the country’s repressive ‘war censorship’ legislation and release all those imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to express opposition to the war.”
Background
Lida Moniava has worked in the charity sector since 2008, including with “Podari Zhizn” (Gift a Life) foundation, which helps children with oncological and haematological diseases, and “Vera” (Faith), a hospice where she coordinated palliative care for children. In 2014, she became deputy director of the children’s hospice “Dom s Mayakom” (House with a Lighthouse) and in 2018 became director of its charitable foundation.
On 2 September 2026, Lida Moniava was detained in Moscow under charges of “public dissemination of knowingly false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation” (Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code). Her home was searched and she was questioned by members of the Investigation Committee, a stand-alone agency tasked with investigating serious crime. On the same day, she was placed in a temporary detention facility for two days until the court decides on her pretrial restrictions.
According to her lawyer, the criminal case concerns a Telegram post by Lida Moniava in February 2023.
In February 2026, a court fined Lida Moniava 45,000 roubles (US$ 580) for allegedly “discrediting” the Russian Armed Forces. The proceedings concerned three posts on her Telegram channel, including posts referring to Russia’s war against Ukraine and to reported Russian strikes in Kryvyi Rih and Sumy.
