"The World Is Unfair"

"There are moments in everyone’s life when you walk through the wrong door."

"In these difficult times, heroic times, an artist of my calibre, a people’s artist, cannot and should not be so irresponsible when participating in various events."

Filipp Kirkorov, Russia’s king of pop

 

"[I] realized [that attending and sharing images from Ivleeva’s party was inappropriate at a time when Russian troops were fighting in Ukraine]."

"If anyone was offended by my appearance, I apologize for that."

"I don’t want to cause hatred and anger toward myself and other artists because of this stupid accident."

Ksenia Sobchak, media personality, rumoured Putin goddaughter

 

"Тhey say that Russia knows how to forgive. If so, I would like to ask you, the people, for a second chance."

"If the answer is no, then I’m ready for my public execution. I won’t shy away. I’m ready for any outcome."

Instagram influencer Anastasia Ivleeva

 

"Moscow has become similar to Chechnya: public apologies from party participants trembling with fear, tax audits, the prospect of criminal cases."

"Totalitarian regimes differ from the authoritarian ones in that it lives not somewhere on the street, but in your kitchen, sleeps in your bed, listens to your conversations with friends and relatives."

"It is time to understand that no one will let you live as before in exchange for quietly consenting to the regime’s policies. You are required to actively participate in all the disgusting actions and activities of this government."

Alexander Rodnyansky, Ukrainian producer

People attend an 'almost naked' party organized by Anastasia Ivleeva at Mutabor nightclub in Moscow in an image published Dec. 21. (Ostorozhno Novosti via Reuters)

 The now-notorious 'almost naked' party that took place in Moscow that the public responded to with outrage has seen the celebrities who attended being punished. Placating the outrage of the public at the lead-up to Russia's upcoming federal election for which Vladimir Putin views the event as a gift to win the voting approval of the public. Viewing photographs of the event at which pop stars, actors, even the daughter of his former political mentor enjoyed themselves in a display of scantily dressed decadence, he expressed his distaste, a signal for an official crackdown.

It now becomes part of Vladimir Putin's re-election campaign to humble the Russian elite for the conduct of these stars. It is from among this class of entrepreneurs, celebrities and oligarchs that an undercurrent of opposition to the war that the Kremlin unleashed on Ukraine emanates. For one thing the opprobrium by much of the civilized world at the unwarranted invasion with its consequential bloodshed involves them in Western sanctions; not good for their personal and financial affairs.

Political consultant Sergei Markov, an insider with the presidential administration, voiced his opinion: "It was decided to punish them at the highest level". This, despite that Moscow had enjoyed an image as a hedonistic party city following the collapse of Communism. Now, two years into Vladimir Putin's war with Ukraine the Kremlin promotes Mr. Putin as a defender of traditional Russian values translated as a confrontation with the 'liberal' West.

Traditional Russian values probably don't match with leaving one's wife and bearer of his children for a  younger woman and creating a luxurious secret nest for her and their resulting children. However, the traditional values of leaders siphoning off state funds to build magnificent palaces and have luxurious yachts built for their personal enjoyment seems to reflect the Soviet years of equality when the leadership enjoyed their dachas while the population laboured to produce inferior crop yields and automobiles.

"The country is at war and these people are having fun", commented Tatiana Stanovaya, founder of R.Politik, political consultancy, and senior fellow, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. As for the shock of the Russian elite: "They've all understood now that for the regime this is a sacred cow", she expanded. And for a change, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman who is rarely at a loss for words, felt little inclined to comment. 

TV presenter and actress Anastasia Ivleeva, centre, performs during the VK Festival in Moscow on July 15. In December, Ivleeva was criticized for hosting a bash at a Moscow nightclub with the stated dress code of 'almost naked.' (The Associated Press)

Some of the revellers at the Moscow Mutabor club who attended the December party "where the dress code was 'almost naked", prompted the conservative backlash, that led the erstwhile party-goers to apologize -- almost grovelling -- asking for forgiveness on social media. Not that it has helped them in any observable manner. And oh, how the mighty have fallen, delivering no end of malicious satisfaction to the great public that both admired and envied them.

Maria Zakharova, foreign ministry spokeswoman, at viewing photographs of the event, expressed her disgust, informing an interviewer: "We won't tolerate this filth any longer". I regret "If anyone was offended by my appearance" (at the party) went the apology of Ksenia Sobchak, whose late father Anatoly, was mayor of St.Petersburg in the 1990s, and acted as Putin's political mentor. But she also had other things to say:

"The world is unfair -- it was, it is and always will be."

"Somewhere they're killing, somewhere children are starving, and somewhere at this time they're drinking champagne."

Ksenia Sobchak, socialite, former 2018 presidential candidate

 

Russian stars' semi-naked party sparks wartime backlash – video report