War in Ukraine: who is Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian organizer of the deportation of Ukrainian children

Aged 39, Maria Lvova-Belova has become one of the most controversial figures in the conflict in Ukraine, alongside Vladimir Putin. Russian Presidential Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights, this mother of 7 children was designated by the International Criminal Court as one of the main perpetrators of the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

A close confidante of Putin, she has forged close ties with the Kremlin for many years. Originally from Penza in central Russia, this zealous civil servant rose through the ranks of power thanks to her unwavering dedication to the Russian president.

“She’s a child predator”

She was able to position herself as a strong ally, playing a key role in the “Russification” policy led by Moscow in occupied Ukraine. According to the United Nations, more than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been illegally deported to Russia since the invasion began in February 2022. Maria Lvova-Belova is said to have been personally involved in many cases, meeting with Ukrainian families to convince them to send their children to Russia under the pretext of offering them better living conditions.

“She is a child predator who acts under the guise of humanitarian assistance,” denounces Dmytro Lubinets, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Ukrainian Parliament. Despite international condemnations, Maria Lvova-Belova continues to show her support for this barbaric policy, going so far as to adopt a young deported Ukrainian boy herself. Nicknamed the “female Himmler” by some observers, Maria Lvova-Belova embodies the darkest side of the Putin regime.