‘I love you so much and you should know that you did nothing wrong’ – this is what a girl wrote to her dad who was to be jailed for ‘discrediting Russia’s army’.
Alexei Moskalyov, a single parent from the town of Yefremov, 150 miles south of Moscow, was sentenced to two years in prison for making anti-war statements on a social network.
Police began investigating him after his daughter Maria drew missiles aimed at a woman and a child and wrote the phrases ‘Glory to Ukraine’ and ‘No to War’ at school.
Her head teacher reported this to authorities and her dad was arrest earlier this month.
Maria's letter to her dad in full:
‘Hi Dad, I need you to stay healthy and calm. I’m okay, I love you so much and you should know that you did nothing wrong, I’ll always be on your side and I believe everything you do is right.
I love you so much, thank you for everything you’re doing for me. When you’re feeling bad or anxious, I feel sick and bad too. I believe that things are going to be fine and that we’ll be together someday. I hope for the best and love you so much.
Dad, you know what, one woman wrote to me that you need to love, hope, and believe, because only those who can love, hope, and believe can win.
Please know that we will win, that the victory will be ours, and we’re together whatever happens, we’re a team and you’re the best. You are my dad, the smartest, the most handsome, and the best dad on Earth. Please know that you’re the best.
I’m asking you one thing: do not give up. Love, hope, and believe.
Someday we’ll sit at a table and remember all of this. I love you and I hope that, actually I know for sure, that you will never give up, you’re a strong man, we’re both strong, and we’ll do it, and I will be praying for you and both of us, Dad.
I am proud. Yes, Dad, I can say that I am proud of my father. A dignified, smart, handsome, unyielding man who loves his daughter so much.
When we finally meet, I will give you a big good gift. Dad I don’t want to write about my health and state of mind. I don’t want to upset you, but I understand that the bitter truth is better than a sweet lie. I’ll tell you everything when we get to meet each other.
This sign [the peace symbol] is an anti-war sign, and I will gift it to you in a locket because you’re the bravest person on Earth!
I love you, you’re a hero.
My hero.’
As a result, the 13-year-old was taken to a state-run shelter, where she will remain until he is out of prison.
From there, the schoolgirl wrote a letter to him, which has now been shared by Dmitry Zakhvatov, the family’s lawyer, at his client’s request.
‘I believe that things are going to be fine and that we’ll be together someday. I hope for the best and love you so much,’ it read.
At the time, the whereabouts of Mr Moskalyov were unknown after fleeing house arrest the day before.
Later that same day, a court sentenced him in absentia to two years in a penal colony.
But Belarusian authorities confirmed the 54-year-old has now been detained in the capital, Minsk.
Mr Zakhvatov speculated his client had given away his location when turning his mobile on.
He said: ‘Apparently someone made a mistake, maybe it was due to him using a mobile phone. Most likely it was due to him using a mobile phone improperly.’
It is not yet clear how he had made his way from Yefremov to Minsk, a distance of about 440 miles, or what further legal consequences he would now face.
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