Maria Lvova-Belova facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maria Lvova-Belova
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Мария Львова-Белова
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Lvova-Belova in 2022
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| Children's Rights Commissioner for the President of Russia | |
| Assumed office 27 October 2021 |
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| President | Vladimir Putin |
| Preceded by | Anna Kuznetsova |
| Senator from Penza Oblast |
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| In office 21 September 2020 – 27 October 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Alexey Dmitrienko |
| Succeeded by | Nikolay Kondratyuk |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 October 1984 Penza, Soviet Union |
| Political party | United Russia |
| Spouse |
Pavel Kogelman
(m. 2003) |
| Children | 23 |
Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova (born on October 25, 1984) is a politician from Russia. Since October 2021, she has served as the Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights. In this role, she works to protect the rights of children in Russia.
Her work became known worldwide after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Lvova-Belova. The warrant is related to her role in moving children from Ukraine to Russia. A similar warrant was also issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Maria Lvova-Belova was born in the city of Penza, which was part of the Soviet Union at the time. In 2002, she finished her studies at a college of culture and arts, where she trained to be a conductor.
Before her current job, Lvova-Belova was involved in local and national politics. She was a member of the Civic Chamber of Penza Oblast and later the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation. These groups allow citizens to give their opinions on government work.
In 2019, she joined the United Russia political party. A year later, she became a Senator, representing Penza Oblast.
Commissioner for Children's Rights
In October 2021, President Vladimir Putin appointed Lvova-Belova as the Commissioner for Children's Rights. This is a top government position focused on protecting children.
Moving Children from Ukraine
During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lvova-Belova was involved in a program that moved many Ukrainian children to Russia. Officials in Ukraine and the United Kingdom have said she oversaw the forced moving and adoption of these children.
In September 2022, she said that a group of children from the Ukrainian city of Mariupol at first sang the Ukrainian national anthem to show they were unhappy. She later said they grew to "love Russia."
International Actions
Because of her role in moving Ukrainian children, several countries placed international sanctions on Lvova-Belova. This means they put limits on her ability to travel or do business with them. These countries include the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States, and Japan.
On March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for her. The court stated the warrant was for her alleged responsibility in the "unlawful deportation" of children from Ukraine to Russia.
Personal Life
Lvova-Belova married Pavel Kogelman, a priest in the Russian Orthodox Church, in 2003. Together, they have five biological children and eighteen adopted children.
In February 2023, she adopted a 15-year-old boy from Mariupol, a city in Ukraine. This happened while the program to move Ukrainian children to Russia was active. In 2024, it was reported that she married Konstantin Malofeev, a media business owner.
See also
In Spanish: María Lvova-Belova para niños
- Yelizaveta Glinka, a Russian charity figure who also started programs to move Ukrainian children to Russia.
