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.
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.