VIDEO: Father of Student Who Painted Anti-War Picture Arrested in Tula Region

The father of a student who painted an anti-war picture has been arrested in Russia's Tula region. Last spring, Masha, who was then a sixth-grade student, created an anti-war drawing during an art class at her school. The sketch depicted the flags of Russia and Ukraine, with one flag bearing the words "No to War" and the other saying "Glory to Ukraine." Between the two flags is a woman holding a child, with missiles flying from the side of the Russian flag.

According to journalist Alexey Moskalyev, the art teacher reported the drawing to the school principal, who apparently called the police. Subsequently, there was a conversation between the police and child protection services and the father.

Last year, an administrative protocol was drawn up against Moskalyev for "public actions aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation" under part 1 of Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, and in December, a criminal case was initiated under a similar article. Moskalyev is currently under house arrest.

"This is a violation of a parent's right to live with their child and is clearly the arbitrary action of KDN, which ordered Masha to be kept in this rehabilitation center," his lawyer told the BBC.

The father and his acquaintances have not been able to see her or even speak with her on the phone for over a week, reported Elena Agafonova, a volunteer from the Tula Regional People's Council who is assisting the Moskalyev family. The day before, Agafonova attempted to visit the student at the social institution but was reportedly denied entry, as she was not a relative.

After this failure, the volunteer requested the staff at the facility to provide goods and a mobile phone to the girl, in order to maintain some form of contact; however, Agafonova suspects that the phone was not given to her.

Local MP Olga Podolskaya, who tried to communicate with the director of the institution, was also not allowed to enter the shelter.