Children’s Hospice Founder Detained in Moscow Over War ‘Fakes’

Sep. 2, 2026 Lida Moniava. Lida Moniava / Facebook Law enforcement authorities searched the home of Lida Moniava, a prominent advocate for critically ill children’s care, and took her in for questioning as part of a criminal probe into “fakes” about the Russian military, her attorney told Russian media on Wednesday. “Officially, she is not under arrest. She has not been formally charged,” Mikhail Biryukov told the state-run TASS news agency. He said officials from the Investigative Committee, Russia’s top investigative body, were questioning Moniava. Moscow’s Simonovsky District Court is expected to rule on pre-trial detention measures, Biryukov said in separate comments to the news outlet RBC. The charge of spreading false information about the military carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Moniava is the founder of the Moscow-based charity “Lighthouse,” which operates hospices for seriously ill children and young adults in the Russian capital and surrounding region. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moniava created a foundation that provided shelter, medical supplies and food to people fleeing from the war. The organization also later helped Armenians fleeing from conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as Russians displaced from the Kursk and Belgorod regions. That foundation suspended operations last September due to the dwindling number of refugees arriving in Moscow and the Moscow region. Moniava was previously detained in January and in February. She was fined 45,000 rubles ($520) after being found guilty of “discrediting” the Russian military in posts on Telegram. Despite facing pressure from the authorities, Moniava has refused to leave Russia. “If I leave, critically ill children will end up in nursing homes and intensive care units for longer periods. Knowing that, I doubt I could live happily in some other country,” she wrote earlier this year. Read more about: Moscow , Children Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia Downs Drone Heading for Moscow There were no casualties or damage, according to initial reports, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. 1 Min read News Analysis Drone Attacks on Moscow Pressure Russia Far From the Frontlines As Kyiv’s counteroffensive has so far failed to make a major breakthrough, it is looking for other tactics to change the course of the war, analysts... 4 Min read 8 Dead After 'Tour' of Moscow Sewer Hit by Rain According to state media, water levels in the sewer rose quickly following a downpour and the victims were unable to escape to the surface. 1 Min read Moscow Set to Swelter With Arrival of 2016’s Hottest Days Muscovites are set to enjoy scorching summer temperatures until the end of the week, Russia’s Weather Center chief Roman Vilfand announced Monday.The...