Party with almost naked celebrities in Russia irritates church and army; Guests are arrested
Russian government and judicial authorities are punishing people who attended a party at a nightclub in Moscow on December 21 where local celebrities were present nearly naked. The event displeased a conservative section of Russian society including soldiers in Ukraine who complained about the party.
Some of the people who went to the party lost endorsement deals and a rapper who wore a sock to cover his private area was sentenced to 15 days in jail.
The party took place at the Butabor nightclub. The organizer of the event was the country's famous blogger Anastasia Ivleeva. Among the guests were singers who frequently appear on state television.
Ivleeva was at the party wearing jewelry worth R$1.2 million. She posted two videos apologizing. In the second video, posted on the 27th, she said she was sorry and hoped to “get a second chance.”
She had an advertising contract with a mobile phone company, but since the scandal began, her images have disappeared from the advertising campaign.
The country's courts have upheld a lawsuit filed by a group of individuals demanding payment of around R$53,000 for “moral suffering” they want to donate the money to war veterans in Ukraine. In addition, the country's tax office began investigating the blogger (if convicted, she could face a prison sentence of up to five years).
1 of 1 Russian blogger Anastasia Ivleeva and rapper GeeGun at the party for almost naked people in Moscow, on December 21, 2023 Photo: Ostorozhno Novosti/Portal Russian blogger Anastasia Ivleeva and rapper GeeGun at the party for almost naked people in Moscow, on December 21, 2023 Photo: Ostorozhno Novosti/Portal
Other celebrities who were at the party publicly apologized, including journalist Ksenia Sobchak (she is the daughter of a nowdeceased man who was friends with Putin).
Nikolai Vasiliev, a rapper named Vacio, was the one who appeared at one point during the event wearing only a sock that covered his genitals. In addition to being sentenced to 15 days in prison, he was also fined R$10,000 for promoting “nontraditional sexual relationships.”
Other famous people have had their appearances canceled and in at least one case appear to have been cut from a new film.
The army, the Orthodox Church and the judiciary didn't like it
Criticism came from conservative parts of Russian society: progovernment lawmakers, bloggers, state media and Orthodox church groups. The story was highlighted in the country's press offices for days.
The Russian website Baza, which is considered close to the Russian armed forces, published a text saying that soldiers in Ukraine had seen videos and photos of the party and complained about the incident.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Vladimir Putin, told reporters that he would not comment on the party. “This way, you and I will be the only ones in the country not talking about this issue,” he said.