Lida Moniava faces jail in Russia over anti-war post

Russian charity leader Lida Moniava is facing years in prison after being arrested over a social media post about the war in Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees living in Russia.

Moniava, 38, has been placed under supervised curfew and made to wear an ankle monitor pending trial on charges of spreading "false information" about the Russian army. The charges stem from a 2023 Telegram post in which she cited UN figures on civilian casualties and called for help for Ukrainian refugees in Russia.

Moniava has worked with sick and disabled children since she was a teenager. In 2013 she launched Moscow's first hospice for terminally ill children, and in 2018 founded House with the Lighthouse, a charity providing medication, equipment, in-home support, nurses and nannies to children in need.

Her foundation raised more than 1.2 billion rubles, or $14 million, in 2025. Elena Babich, whose son has disabilities, said her son "survived thanks to the support of Lida's fund".

After Russia launched its offensive in Ukraine in 2022, Moniava started a project to help Ukrainian refugees who had fled to Russia. The project provided assistance to about 17,000 people in the first three years of the war.

Moniava was fined in February for "discrediting" the Russian army over social media posts condemning the offensive. She has refused to leave Russia and has stepped down as director of her fund so it can continue to operate.