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

Some of Our Books

The Little Humpbacked Horse

The Little Humpbacked Horse

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.
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.
Woe From Wit (bilingual)

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.
22 Russian Crosswords

22 Russian Crosswords

Test your knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and society with these 22 challenging puzzles taken from the pages of Russian Life magazine. Most all the clues are in English, but you must fill in the answers in Russian. If you get stumped, of course all the puzzles have answers printed at the back of the book.
The Samovar Murders

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 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.
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.  
Murder and the Muse

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