Lawyer Natalia Salnikova told reporters that according to RIA Novosti, tax authorities allege a shortfall of nearly 1.5 billion rubles tied to blogger Elena Blinovskaya. The case centers on a tax assessment the authorities say remains incomplete because a formal decision has not yet taken effect. The tax office has ruled that the debt stands at 918 million rubles, with penalties and fines potentially reaching up to 1.4 billion rubles. These figures reflect the sum the authorities claim is owed after adjustments and penalties, not the initial assessments alone. Salnikova emphasized that the tax office had not issued an invoice yet, as the ruling had not entered into force. — Source: RIA Novosti
Earlier discussions on the Telegram channel known as reported Blinovskaya’s tax debt reaching approximately one and a half billion rubles. The channels and outlets that covered the case helped establish a narrative about the scale of the alleged tax obligations and their public perception. — Source: RIA Novosti
On April 27, Blinovskaya was detained while attempting to leave Russia after purchasing a plane ticket to depart. A criminal case was opened against the blogger, accusing her of large-scale tax evasion and of laundering funds and property on a significant scale. The authorities described the charges as serious and tied them to a period marked by transactions and financial activity that allegedly violated tax and anti-laundering laws. — Source: RIA Novosti
The day following the arrest, the court ordered a preventive measure in the form of house arrest and prohibited the use of the internet for Blinovskaya. The detention period was extended multiple times as the case progressed, reflecting ongoing scrutiny of her online presence and financial dealings. — Source: RIA Novosti
During a later session, the Moscow City Court reviewed Blinovskaya’s defense and the extension of house arrest. The blogger’s attorney argued that the restriction hindered entrepreneurial activities, prevented online access necessary to gather data for a new tax audit, and made it difficult to oversee day-to-day business operations, including managing family commitments such as school and kindergarten drops offs. The court maintained the house arrest while the investigation continued. — Source: RIA Novosti
There were also reports from FSIN about a heightened level of suspicion tied to Blinovskaya’s compliance with house arrest. The evolving nature of the case underscored concerns about monitoring, enforcement, and the impact of such measures on a person’s ability to operate a business in the digital age. — Source: RIA Novosti