In a notable turn of events, the Kremlin has been implicated in the backlash against Russian celebrities who attended an "almost naked" party in Moscow, according to The Moscow Times.
High-profile figures such as Nastya Ivleeva, Lolita Milyavskaya, Ksenia Sobchak, and rapper VACÍO (Nikolai Vasilyev) faced severe criticism, contract losses, sponsorships withdrawal, and even legal repercussions post the event.
Sources within the government, State Duma, and presidential administration have suggested that this wave of condemnation was not merely a spontaneous public outcry but was also influenced by directives from President Vladimir Putin’s administration.
This scandal, evolving during Putin's re-election campaign, seemingly served as a strategic move to divert public dissatisfaction with the war in Ukraine and the declining economy towards non-political figures.
The campaign against these celebrities, involving television propagandists and law enforcement agencies, was reportedly a calculated decision to shift the citizens' focus from the Kremlin's actions.
Despite initial reactions from ultra-conservative activists and pro-war figures, the scale of the response hints at a political decision from the highest level.
The disapproval and penal actions against these celebrities, including the jailing of rapper VACÍO and the potential criminal prosecution of Ivleeva, indicate a concerted effort to manipulate public sentiment.
Officials have suggested that this crackdown is a part of a larger scheme to militarize the mass consciousness and impose stricter moral expectations, signaling a shift in the social and political atmosphere of Russia.
The response to the party and its attendees, therefore, reflects not just a cultural but a significant political maneuver within Russia's current socio-political landscape.
