Exploitation and Forced Labor

Section from the Article: Andrei Lemeshonok – Criminal or Saint?
Published 06 December 2024
Sources: [03], [04], [05], [09], [11], [12], [13]

Exploitation of Children at «Ichvis Monastery School»

The allegations surrounding the convent’s treatment of children, also raise serious ethical and legal concerns. Evidence suggests that children under the care of the convent and students at the «Ichvis Monastery School» were subjected to exploitation and forced labor, working long hours in arduous conditions with minimal or no compensation. Reports indicate that these children were engaged in labor across various convent-owned facilities, including agricultural fields, workshops, and production sites that contribute to the convent’s revenue. This alleged practice positions the children as unpaid laborers rather than as individuals receiving care and support, potentially prioritizing financial gain over their well-being.

Additionally troubling is the reported use of the Ichvis school «Children’s Choir» led by Lyudmila Vladimirovna Litoshik and Mariya Bakhvalova, both close associates of Lemeshonok.

Lyudmila Vladimirovna Litoshik and Mariya Bakhvalova – Obitel-minsk.ru

The choir has allegedly been featured at events and exhibitions linked to promoting the Neo-Nazi ideology of the «Russian World» and Russia’s so-called Special Operation in Ukraine, further complicating the ethical implications of the children’s involvement.

Notably, the children’s performances are reportedly used to highlight products from the Monastery of St. Elisabeth Convent, raising pressing questions about the exploitation of these children for both ideological and commercial ends. These allegations demand a thorough investigation to address potential violations of children’s rights and the misuse of their labor and involvement in such contexts (source [03:1], [04:1], [05:1], [11:1], [11:2], [14:1]).

Ichvis School students performed at the Radost Festival. Source: CEM Instagram account @ichthys_shkola

Children for Warriors. Children’s Choir of the ICHVIS School – Obitel-minsk.ru

«Kladez» – at VDNKh in Moscow – Obitel-minsk.ru

Conclusion

The allegations of exploitation and forced labor involving children under the care of the convent and the Ichvis Monastery school are deeply troubling and raise critical ethical, legal, and humanitarian concerns. The reported use of children in labor-intensive roles within convent-owned facilities and their involvement in ideologically charged performances not only jeopardizes their rights and well-being but also underscores the urgent need for accountability.

These practices represent a grave misuse of authority and resources, prioritizing financial and ideological interests over the care and protection of vulnerable individuals. A comprehensive and impartial investigation is imperative to uncover the full extent of these allegations, ensure justice for those affected, and prevent such abuses in the future.

Source index

Author:
Leon (Nic. Cheropoulos)
2025.01.07