Roskomnadzor, Russia's federal censorship agency, has identified "signs of LGBT propaganda" in media from a controversial "almost naked" party that featured prominent celebrities, as reported by lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein.
The event, which has garnered significant attention and criticism, was held earlier this week and attended by various high-profile individuals.
In response to the event, pro-government activists filed complaints against the organizers and attendees with federal agencies, including the Interior Ministry and the Prosecutor General’s Office.
These complaints were echoed by lawmaker Maria Butina, who used official State Duma letterhead to submit her grievances. The federal agencies have yet to issue formal responses to these complaints.
The aftermath of the party saw stringent actions by Russian authorities. Moscow courts ordered the arrest of rapper Vacio (Nikolai Vasiliev), one of the most prominent figures at the event.
He was accused of disturbing the peace, using profanity, and circulating materials online that allegedly promoted "non-traditional sexual relations." Vacio received a 15-day jail sentence for disorderly conduct and a fine of 200,000 rubles (approximately $2,171) for violating laws against "gay propaganda."
Following his arrest, Vacio released an apology video, asserting that he does not support the LGBT community and had no intention of promoting such ideologies. This statement was circulated by state news agency RIA Novosti.
The controversy extended to other attendees as well. Russian law enforcement arrested two men who were reportedly filmed kissing at the party. They face misdemeanor charges, although these claims have not been independently verified.
Prominent media figure Ksenia Sobchak and singer Lolita Milyavskaya, both attendees of the party, reacted to the public backlash. Sobchak defended the party, asserting that individuals have the right to decide how they present themselves in their personal lives.
Milyavskaya noted the irony of the situation, pointing out that the most humorous aspect of the affair emerged only after the event, amidst the growing backlash.
The party’s main organizer, blogger and TV presenter Nastya Ivleeva, faced criticism as well and subsequently deleted a social media comment in which she expressed enjoyment over the controversy sparked by her events.
Despite police intervention on the second day of the party at the Mutabor club, the event continued. While the first day's tickets were priced up to one million rubles ($10,855), the entry fee for the second day was significantly lower, starting at 1,500 rubles ($16.28).
The party resumed after police left the venue, and videos from the second day were later posted on Nastya Ivleeva’s Instagram page.
