He spoke against the war, the extreme decision is taken against the 54-year-old Russian, this is what they did to his minor daughter

A Russian citizen has been sentenced to two years in prison for defaming the Russian military after escaping from house arrest, his lawyer said.

Alexei Moskalyov's young daughter was also taken into state custody, lawyer Dmitry Zakhvatov told Reuters news agency.

"He was arrested, yes", said Mr. Zakhvatov, without giving further details.

Russian-language news outlet SOTA reported earlier that Moskalyov, 54, had been arrested in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, a staunch ally of Russia.

Moskalyov came to the attention of Russian police last year after his daughter Masha, then 12, drew an anti-war picture at school showing Russia firing missiles at a Ukrainian mother and child.

He was later charged with discrediting Russia's armed forces in connection with particular anti-war comments he allegedly made on social media.

The case has made headlines in Russia and abroad, especially after Masha, now 13, was separated from her father and placed in a children's home earlier this month.

On Tuesday, Moskalyov was released from house arrest in the early hours. Later the same day, a court sentenced him in absentia to two years in a penal colony.