Lida Moniava, head of the House with a Lighthouse children’s hospice, faces up to 10 years in prison over a 2023 social media post criticizing the war in Ukraine.

Russian authorities have detained Lida Moniava, the founder of the House with a Lighthouse children’s hospice, on charges of spreading "fake" information about the Russian military. The charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years, stem from a February 2023 Telegram post in which Moniava condemned the invasion of Ukraine. Officers searched her home on September 2 and brought her to the Investigative Committee for questioning.

Legal Proceedings and Charges

Moniava is charged under Article 207.3, Part 2, Clause D of the Russian Criminal Code, which covers the dissemination of false information motivated by political hatred. During her initial questioning, she did not admit guilt. Her defense attorney, Mikhail Biryukov, stated that a hearing regarding her pretrial restrictions is scheduled for September 3 at the Simonovsky District Court in Moscow, where investigators are expected to request her detention.

Background and Previous Penalties

This is not Moniava's first legal encounter regarding her public statements. In February 2026, she was fined 45,000 rubles for "discrediting" the Russian military, a penalty linked to three 2025 social media posts discussing the war and civilian casualties. Despite these actions, Moniava has previously stated she does not intend to emigrate, citing her commitment to children in palliative care.

Hospice Operations

Moniava co-founded the House with a Lighthouse foundation alongside Nyuta Federmesser to support terminally ill children and young adults in Moscow and the surrounding region. The foundation confirmed that its operations and support for families are continuing as usual despite the ongoing legal situation involving its founder.