Dmitry Tyulenev, the stepfather of Dani Milokhin, spoke frankly during a conversation on Moscow speaks, describing the tension inside the family and indicating that his stepson still harbors a wish to return to Russia. He painted a picture of a young man who longs to be present at home, to reconnect with familiar surroundings, and to settle matters that have shadowed him for months. The conversation underscored a complex mix of personal aspiration and ongoing pressures from the outside, highlighting the emotional stakes for Milokhin as he navigates distant obligations and family expectations in equal measure.
“I apologized, gave him a chance to work,” Tyulenev noted, recounting how he tried to create an opportunity for Milokhin despite the difficulties. He added that Dani wants to come back, but the path back is not simple because a number of police officers are pursuing him at multiple addresses. The situation, described with evident frustration, suggests a broader struggle between a public figure’s private desires and the constraints that follow him, complicating any straightforward return to life as it was before the current circumstances.
The accusation of double standards came up as well, with Tyulenev remarking that Milokhin received widespread praise from the country for his appearance on the Ice Age program, yet now faces calls for military service. The contrast in public reaction, as he framed it, points to a larger debate about how fame interacts with national duties and the expectations placed on individuals who suddenly find themselves in the spotlight for reasons beyond their control. He emphasized that if there are processes to be followed, Milokhin should be allowed to complete them in due course and be examined and documented properly, arguing for a fair chance to return rather than immediate punitive steps.
According to Tyulenev, what followed was a perceived campaign of what he described as traditional persecution against his family. He claimed that a range of authorities began arriving at the same time, and that a legal dispute with the city administration had emerged. He also mentioned an anonymous complaint connected to Moscow and vowed to identify this person, underscoring the tense atmosphere surrounding Milokhin and the family’s ongoing legal and political entanglements.
On October 3, reports circulated that Milokhin had been officially summoned to serve in the Russian Armed Forces. A Mash Telegram channel source claimed that during the second day of the fall 2023 conscription wave, a summons was allegedly mailed to the blogger’s registered address in Anapa, suggesting that the draft process was moving forward despite the complexities surrounding his return and status. The timing and sourcing of those claims reflect the fractured information environment surrounding public figures who become entangled in national service requirements.
Milokhin had previously left Russia for Dubai in the autumn of 2022, returning on September 8, 2023. After his return, Ekaterina Mizulina, then head of the Secure Internet League, issued an appeal via Telegram to the Ministry of Defense leadership, urging them to consider Milokhin for draft. By September 11, reports confirmed that the blogger had departed Russia for the United Arab Emirates, a move that intensified the discussion about his obligations and possible conscription. The sequence of departures and returns framed a narrative of a public figure balancing international residence with looming duties at home, sparking speculation about how such decisions influence public perception and policy considerations.
The topic also touched on the personal dimension of Milokhin’s life, with his former wife weighing in on the shock surrounding his divorce. These remarks contributed to a broader media tapestry about his private life amid the public trajectory of his career and the evolving story of his status in relation to military service and national duties.