Russia Drops Criminal Case Against Children’s Hospice Founder Lida Moniava

Oct. 7, 2026 Lida Moniava. REUTERS / Anastasia Barashkova Russian investigators have dropped a criminal case against Lida Moniava, a prominent advocate for critically ill children’s care, after finding no grounds for prosecution, her supporters said Tuesday, citing her lawyer. Moniava was arrested on Sept. 2 and charged with spreading “false information” about Russia’s military over a social media post about Ukrainian civilians killed in Russian attacks. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Her support group said lawyer Mikhail Biryukov had confirmed the decision and that an official notice closing the case had been sent by mail. “This is a miracle. But it didn’t happen on its own. You made it happen,” the group wrote, thanking those who attended her court hearing, wrote letters in her defense and publicly supported her. The group gave special thanks to hospice patients who came to court, some of whom were in wheelchairs or using ventilators. 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. Her case had prompted an outpouring of support from families whose children had received care from the charity. 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. That foundation suspended operations in 2025 due to the dwindling number of refugees arriving in Moscow and the Moscow region. Following her Sept. 2 arrest, Moniava announced that she was stepping down as Lighthouse’s director and leaving its board but said she intended to stay in Russia. However, on Wednesday, Biryukov said Moniava would remain Lighthouse’s director. “If there’s no verdict and no judicial investigation, and the case is closed, that means there’s no reason for her to step down as director,” Biryukov told RBC. The dismissal of her case marks a rare outcome in Russia’s crackdown on anti-war speech. In a February 2025 report, rights group OVD-Info said it knew of just over 20 instances in which anti-war criminal cases had been dropped at various stages since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Read more about: Activism , Court case , 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 Children’s Hospice Founder Arrested and Charged Over ‘War Fakes’ Lida Moniava is the founder of the charity “Lighthouse,” which operates hospices for seriously ill children and young adults in Moscow. 1 Min read Russian Court Remands 4 Suspects Over Concert Hall Attack The suspects face a maximum sentence of life in prison on charges of committing a terrorist act. 2 Min read Russia Drops Children’s Hepatitis C Outbreak Case – Reports Nearly 170 children had allegedly been infected through unsterile gloves and catheters at the pediatric hospital in Russia's Far East. Russian Priest Who Adopted 70 Children Charged With Pedophilia Several of the priest's adopted children plan to demonstrate in his support.