Father and Daughter Who Fled Russia Win Magnitsky Human Rights Award

Nov. 6, 2026 Alexei Moskalyov and his daughter Maria. @Govorit_NeMoskva / Telegram Alexei Moskalyov and his daughter, Maria, who fled Russia after facing political persecution for an anti-war drawing, have been awarded the 2026 Magnitsky Human Rights Award. The organization behind the annual honor announced Thursday that the Moskalyovs received the “Courage Under Fire” award for their refusal to remain silent in the face of state prosecution. “Throughout everything we have endured, Masha has remained true to the values I tried to teach her from childhood: honesty, compassion, courage and the determination to speak the truth, even when doing so comes at a terrible personal cost,” Moskalyov said in a statement. In 2023, a Russian court sentenced Moskalyov to two years in prison on charges of “discrediting” the Russian military. The case began a year earlier, after Maria, then 12, drew a picture at school depicting Ukrainian mothers protecting their children from Russian missiles. Maria was initially placed in a state orphanage before being sent to live with her estranged mother. Following his release in October 2024, Moskalyov reunited with his daughter. Faced with ongoing harassment by law enforcement, including repeated police searches at their home, the pair fled Russia for France, where they were granted political asylum. The Magnitsky Human Rights Awards were created in memory of Sergei Magnitsky, a lawyer who died in a Moscow prison in 2009 after uncovering a major state tax fraud scheme. The annual awards honor journalists, activists and public figures who risk their lives to confront authoritarian regimes. Read more about: Political prisoner 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 Belarus Releases 52 Political Prisoners After Meeting With U.S. Officials in Minsk Belarusian state media reported that citizens of Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, France, Germany and Britain were among the prisoners released. 2 Min read Russian Political Prisoner Dies in Belarusian Jail Andrei Podnebenny is thought to be the ninth political prisoner to have died in Belarus since 2020, according to the rights group Viasna. 1 Min read Feature Russia Has 1,500 Political Prisoners. Their Art Is Now on Display in Europe. Rights advocates collected artwork made by political prisoners for the Prisoners of Conscience installation at Artists Against the Kremlin. 4 Min read Jailed Reporter Ponomarenko Launches Second Hunger Strike Over Prison Conditions Maria Ponomarenko started the hunger strike on Sunday after prison authorities refused to install a privacy screen for the toilet in her isolation cell... 1 Min read