Russian authorities are actively reviewing a group of 32 high-profile bloggers for possible money laundering and tax evasion. The Mash Telegram channel previously circulated a list of potential violators, often described as a black list. A portion of those named are currently in custody or under formal investigation.
Among the individuals under scrutiny are TV presenter Regina Todorenko, model Oksana Samoilova, and blogger Dina Saeva. The Interior Ministry has indicated it is monitoring activities involving Russia’s online influencers, including singer Instasamka, hip hop artist Yegor Creed, and several notable personalities such as Hussein Gasanov, Samira Mustafaeva, Nadine Serovski, Victoria Bonya, Gohar Avetisyan, Anastasia Mironova, Ekaterina Usmanova, Veronika Khatskevich, and others. [Source: Mash Telegram]
Mash reports that the so-called gypsy information blacklist appeared prior to the detentions of Elena Blinovskaya, the author behind The Marathon of Desire, and blogger Lerchek (Valery Chekalin). Official confirmation of this blacklist has not been provided by authorities. [Source: Mash Telegram]
According to data from the Federal Tax Service, a dedicated unit has been created to supervise bloggers with annual incomes above 50 million rubles. A source within the publication said that many bloggers have not been paying taxes, and the number of criminal cases could rise sharply. [Source: Mash Telegram]
Leave list
Blogger Alexandra Mitroshina has also been mentioned on the blacklist. In March, a criminal case was opened against Mitroshina for unpaid taxes totaling 120 million rubles. By the end of the week, the main debt was settled, and Mitroshina reportedly exited the infogypsis group of violators. A fine of 85 million rubles was still due. [Source: Mash Telegram]
When questioned about tax claims on social networks, the blogger suggested that the discrepancies in tax returns were the result of an error by a tax advisor. He emphasized that he has always worked honestly and that this situation requires starting anew, with careful documentation and skepticism toward relying solely on a tax attorney. He urged others to avoid drawing excessive attention to themselves. [Source: Mash Telegram]
Tax cases
On April 27, Blinovskaya, the author behind The Marathon of Desire, faced charges of evading more than 918 million rubles in taxes and laundering over 43 million rubles. She was detained in the Smolensk region while attempting to depart Russia in a rented car. Blinovskaya admitted guilt and was placed under house arrest at a summer residence in the Moscow region. The Presnensky Court also restricted her internet use, curbing access to social networks. [Source: Mash Telegram]
Authorities later indicated they had sent an international order to the United Arab Emirates to verify Blinovskaya’s property holdings in that country, which could be used to compensate damages to the state. [Source: Mash Telegram]
Ksenia Borodina, a television presenter and a friend of Blinovskaya, published commentary urging readers to recognize that no one is a saint. She remarked that life offers no guarantees and highlighted the importance of generosity and living in the moment. [Source: Mash Telegram]
Another person on the list, blogger Lerchek, faces suspicions of tax evasion and complicity amounting to 311 million rubles. Lerchek and her husband Artem Chekalin are under house arrest. [Source: Mash Telegram]
Investigations suggest that from July 2020 to July 2022 the Chekalins operated under a simplified tax regime with an annual income cap of 150 million rubles, while their actual income exceeded that threshold. In April 2021 the couple is reported to have bought more than 130 million rubles in foreign currency to launder funds. [Source: Mash Telegram]
Blogger revenue
Media reporting indicates that Chekalina’s revenue for the previous year reached about 1 billion rubles. Other individuals on the list earned substantially less, including Mitroshina around 650 million rubles, Samoilov about 500 million, Avetisyan around 500 million, Blinovskaya roughly 450 million, and Bonya about 250 million rubles. [Source: Mash Telegram]