The father of a Russian girl who was sent to an orphanage after drawing an antiwar sketch at school has been extradited from Belarus back to Russia, according to a statement on Twitter by The Associated Press. The girl’s father, Andrei Klimov, had fled to Belarus with his family in 2019 after being accused of physically abusing his daughter and faced charges for allegedly making death threats against the staff at the orphanage where his daughter was placed.
The case of the young girl drew international attention after she was taken from her parents and placed in an orphanage because of her drawing that depicted tanks and military planes with captions reading “No war” and “Don’t kill children.” Critics say the move by authorities is yet another example of how dissenting voices are silenced in Russia.
Human rights group Memorial reported that Klimov was under pressure from Russian authorities who wanted him back on their soil. His extradition could mean he will face trial over allegations he abused his daughter, but there are concerns it may also be an attempt to silence further protests about his daughter’s treatment.
This is not the first time human rights groups have criticized Russia for its handling of dissenting voices. In recent years, journalists critical of President Vladimir Putin have been targeted while opposition figures have been jailed or forced into exile.
The extradition comes amid ongoing tensions between Belarus and neighboring countries including Ukraine and Poland over accusations that authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko rigged presidential elections last year. Some analysts believe Moscow played a role in propping up Lukashenko’s regime.
It remains unclear what steps will be taken next regarding Klimov or his daughter’s case. However, human rights advocates continue to speak out against what they see as oppressive tactics used by Russian authorities against those who dare to express their opinions publicly.