December 26, 2023

Put On Some Clothes, The Party Is Over


Put On Some Clothes, The Party Is Over
Nastya Ivleeva at her "nearly naked" party. Nastya Ivleeva, Instagram.

On December 20 and 21, television presenter and influencer Nastya Ivleyeva hosted a star-studded nearly-nude themed party at a Moscow nightclub. After pressure from pro-Kremlin activists, including former spy Maria Butina, Roskomnadzor began an investigation into the violation of "LGBT propaganda" laws and blocked content from the party. Three attendees have been arrested.

Ivleyeva's party gathered many of Russia's familiar faces at Moscow's Mutabor Club, from singers Lolita Milyavskaya and Philipp Kirkorov to rapper GeeGun. Among the crowd was Ksenia Sobchak, the television hostess known as "Putin's goddaughter." Tickets to the party cost nearly one million rubles ($10,855). 

Conservative and religious groups, including Sorok Sorokov, Zov Naroda, and the pro-government "Federal Project on Security and the Fight against Corruption" (FPBK), began filing mass denunciations after pictures and videos of the event circulated online. On December 22, the head of FPBK, Vitaly Borodin, attended a different party to "check that there were no naked people" (Borodin did not find any). Former spy and Gosduma deputy Maria Butina was also among the denunciatory crowd, filing claims to investigate the party organizers' compliance with the "LGBT propaganda ban."

At first, Ivleyeva laughed off the criticism, saying on a Telegram voice message that she loved criticism of her parties. However, after intense backlash, the TV hostess deleted her message. Ksenia Sobchak responded to outrage over partying at times of war, saying, "The world is unfair," and "No mourning can last forever." "Putin's goddaughter" added, "You may not like to look at this, but, excuse me, where and when adults [choose to] go with their bare butt is their own business." 

Rapper Vacio was arrested after wearing only sneakers and a sock covering his genitals during the party. Authorities later forced him to record an apology, saying he "does not support LGBT." Vacio will spend 15 days in prison and pay a fine of R200,000 ($2,171). 

Two men were detained after recording themselves kissing on the dancefloor. According to SHOT, the men may be arrested and sent to a detention center for 15 days.

You Might Also Like

An Anti-War Art Awakening
  • December 18, 2023

An Anti-War Art Awakening

Anonymous artist Zless creates anti-war art that juxtaposes traditional Russian symbols and the horrors of the invasion of Ukraine.
A QR Crackdown
  • December 14, 2023

A QR Crackdown

Moscow bans QR codes on billboards in response to the Russian political opposition.
One Country, Two Wars
  • September 16, 2023

One Country, Two Wars

The Kremlin is currently conducting not one, but two horrific wars.
Dance Floor Dissent
  • May 26, 2023

Dance Floor Dissent

A video of people singing pro-Ukraine lyrics prompted government intervention.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals
[INVALID]
[INVALID]

Some of our Books

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.

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...

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

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.

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.

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.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

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