August 31, 2026

A Child's Cartoonish Crime


A Child's Cartoonish Crime
Ksenia and her chalk drawings, captured on CCTV. Russian state media.

Fourteen-year-old Ksenia visits the playground in Bolokhovo nearly every day, but, as it turns out, the park’s rules for play are strictly enforced. One of her most recent visits to the playground resulted in two substantial criminal charges: damage and vandalism.

Ksenia chose the playground's green rubber mat to draw popular Russian cartoon characters lying in the grass. Unfortunately, the chalk she used stained the rubber mat of the newly renovated park.

As Ksenia pointed out, there is no sign preventing chalk drawings. She just wanted to draw characters from the popular Russian animated series Smeshariki (English: KikoRiki) that other children would also love, with no intention of damaging the property. Local authorities had little patience for cleaning up the colorful drawings and preferred instead to stack criminal charges against her.

Across Russia, the case has sparked outrage at the determination of local authorities to charge the creative 14-year-old with two major offenses of the Russian Criminal Code. Ksenia’s mother, Lyubov Schendrigina, is grateful for the massive show of support. The family only learned of the police report through social media — Lyubov relied on the positive comments to help calm Ksenia.

Vitaly Milonov, a State Duma Deputy, weighed in in support of Ksenia, saying children should be celebrated for decorating places meant for them. The region’s governor went further, encouraging children’s creativity with an art contest to decorate other public places.

While Ksenia’s two criminal charges are no child’s play, she was invited to the Riki Group studio in Saint Petersburg. The studio behind Smeshariki showed their support for the young artist by giving her creative freedom over their walls. Ksenia painted a large mural without the threat of a lengthier criminal record.

While local authorities may have overreacted to a child's spontaneous public art exhibit, there is hope that the widespread public outrage will keep the young artist out of the criminal record. 

You Might Also Like

Play as Propaganda
  • June 07, 2026

Play as Propaganda

Not even children's playgrounds are safe from Kremlin ideology that glorifies war.
A Pro-War Childhood?
  • October 31, 2024

A Pro-War Childhood?

Russian children are being instilled with militant patriotism through plays, stories, cartoons, and toys.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka
November 01, 2012

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.

The Samovar Murders
November 01, 2019

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
Faith & Humor
December 01, 2011

Faith & Humor

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955