May 06, 2021

What a Dud


What a Dud
A Volkov in Deepfake clothing. Screenshot from Leonid Volkov's response to a Deepfake video using his persona YouTube Post by Русское вещание LTV7

On April 21 the Latvian television program Panorama broadcast a video of Leonid Volkov, the current head of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s headquarters, announcing that the prominent Russian journalist, blogger, and YouTube star Yuri Dud would soon be taking over his position.

The video, however, turned out to be a Deepfake.

On March 16, Latvian member of Parliament Rihards Kols received a letter in the mail allegedly posted by Volkov. This “Volkov” offered to speak with members of the foreign affairs committee of the Latvian Saeima regarding the situation of political prisoners in Russia. Latvian representatives agreed to the meeting, which proceeded on March 23.

Kols only became aware of the antics when Ukrainian members of parliament also reported meeting with the fake Volkov on social media. The pranksters are presumed to be the infamous pair Vovan and Lexus, a pro-Kremlin duo who have targeted other world leaders and prominent figures with silly scandals – like the time they posed as Vladimir Putin in a chat with Elton John.

It later emerged that the Volkov Deepfake had faked out Estonian and Lithuanian members of parliament, and even tomfooled Tom Tugendhat, head of the British parliament’s foreign affairs committee.

Tugendhat presumed that the pranksters targeted Navalny’s team because the Kremlin fears the strength of the current opposition movement in Russia.

As Volkov clinched it on Facebook after the scandal erupted: “Welcome to the Deepfake era.”

 

You Might Also Like

Snowmen Acquitted!
  • March 12, 2021

Snowmen Acquitted!

All charges against a group of snowmen, embroiled in a recent controversy, have been dropped.
Not a Snowball's Chance
  • February 05, 2021

Not a Snowball's Chance

One wouldn’t expect it to be an issue for a snowman to be left out in the cold, but in the village of Zachachye in Arkhangelsk Oblast, four such fellows were found wanting for warmth.
The Family Panties
  • January 18, 2021

The Family Panties

Quarantine might have gotten many of us used to hanging around in our underwear, but Russian film director Vitaliy Mansky took his to the streets of Moscow.
Smoking Underpants
  • December 22, 2020

Smoking Underpants

In an astonishingly brazen operation, opposition politician Alexey Navalny pulled the ultimate punk on FSB operative Konstantin Kudryavtsev, who allegedly tried to kill him.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

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.  
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
Murder at the Dacha

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

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.
Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.
The Little Golden Calf

The Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.
Okudzhava Bilingual

Okudzhava Bilingual

Poems, songs and autobiographical sketches by Bulat Okudzhava, the king of the Russian bards. 
The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The fables of Ivan Krylov are rich fonts of Russian cultural wisdom and experience – reading and understanding them is vital to grasping the Russian worldview. This new edition of 62 of Krylov’s tales presents them side-by-side in English and Russian. The wonderfully lyrical translations by Lydia Razran Stone are accompanied by original, whimsical color illustrations by Katya Korobkina.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, 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