A scandal in Russia.. A concert of "semi-naked" celebrities provokes outrage and the Kremlin is silent
The concert organizer publicly apologizes.. And Maria Zakharova: "life teaches us painful lessons.. These people need to realize the depth of the problem and improve for their own good."
A party organized by Russian celebrities in a Moscow nightclub has sparked outrage in Russia over the participation of "semi-naked" guests, amid a growing conservative trend in the country since the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine.
The scandal erupted after figures from the Russian entertainment sector appeared on social media a few days ago in underwear or daring costumes, which led to the arrest of a famous rapper, calls for a boycott and the opening of a criminal investigation.
Faced with such reactions, in a Russian society that is experiencing increased tension due to the conflict in Ukraine, the organizer of the event Anastasia ivleeva published a video apology in which she appeared in tears. She said: "I would like to ask you, the people, for a second chance .. If the answer is no, I am ready to be publicly executed".
More than 20 people filed a class-action lawsuit against her, demanding that she pay one billion rubles (11.11 million dollars) to an organization supporting the attack in Ukraine.
Her apologies did not succeed in calming the TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov, a pro-Kremlin influencer. He replied on Telegram, "do you want a second chance?" They brought our guys (in Ukraine) heaters and drones,"he said.
The guests of this party, in the popular club "mutapur", have previously been called"scum". "You have no idea how much people hate you,"he shouted at them.
According to the TASS news agency, rapper vasio - who came to the party with a sock only to hide his nakedness, was sentenced to 15 days in prison for "homosexual propaganda" and "hooliganism".
The cultural elite was generally spared from the conservative shift in Russia, which was aggravated by the conflict in Ukraine.
Pop star Philip Kirkorov also asked for forgiveness after photos of him wearing lace appeared. "In these difficult and heroic times, an artist of my level cannot and should not be so irresponsible,"he said on camera.
Ksenia Sobchak, a publicist and the daughter of Vladimir Putin's mentor, who appeared in a beige dress with figures of barbed wire, admitted on social networks that "showing photos of the party in front of the whole world was indecent".
Singer Dima Bilan also said that he understands "the discontent of our people, especially the men who defend us on the front lines".
The Kremlin declined to comment. "Life teaches us painful lessons,"said foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
"These people need to realize the depth of the problem and improve," she warned. For their own good".
