TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov, broadcasting on Russia 1, labeled comedian Semyon Slepakov a nit after a lullaby video about a dead Russian soldier appeared on social media. In his authorial program, Solovyov condemned the humorist with sharp language. He called Slepakov a poor, vile bastard and said he was not human. He accused Slepakov of taking money from authorities and described him as a miserable, vile animal. Fontanka reported the remarks and noted Solovyov’s rebuke in strong terms directed at the comedian.
Semyon Slepakov released the video with the song on January 24. The piece imitates a lullaby a mother might sing to her three year old, telling the boy about his brothers, one of whom died while participating in what Russia calls a special military operation in Ukraine. The video prompted widespread discussion about the use of humor in relation to real casualties and ongoing military actions.
Alexander Karabanov, who would later become the director of the National Historical Heritage Conservation Fund, submitted a formal request to the head of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Alexander Bastrykin. He asked for a preliminary investigation into the producer and the humorist, seeking to determine whether the content met legal and ethical standards and to clarify potential violations or offenses.