According to law enforcement sources quoted by TASS, investigators at the Ministry of Internal Affairs have decided not to petition for the arrest of blogger Valeria Chekalina, who uses the alias Lerchek. The move signals a careful approach by investigators as they continue to assess the evidence and consider potential charges. The law enforcement briefing emphasizes that the case remains under active review, with investigators evaluating next steps if new information comes to light.
On October 2, authorities opened a criminal case against Valeria Chekalina and her former partner, Artem Chekalin. Public summaries describe charges linked to the transfer of funds through documents deemed false or forged, and a search operation is currently underway as part of the inquiry. The development adds a fresh dimension to a case that has already drawn public attention, linking financial allegations to prior legal actions and ongoing investigations.
In March 2023, Valeria Chekalina Lerchek became a defendant in a criminal matter connected to tax evasion involving 311 million rubles. Her then-husband, Artem Chekalin, was named as an accomplice in the same proceedings. Later, in December 2023, the Chekalins paid their liabilities to the state and the case was dropped, according to reports from law enforcement and media. The sequence of events highlights the shifting status of charges and the impact of settlements on the trajectory of high-profile cases.
On August 13, the couple was officially divorced. Court records indicated that their shared children, a daughter named Alice and two sons, Bogdan and Lev, would continue to live with their mother. The custody arrangement reflects the court’s assessment of stability and the best interests of the children, aligning with common legal practices in similar familial separations.
September 24 brought new details when the Mash Telegram channel reported that the property division followed their marriage contract after the divorce. It was claimed that Artem waived part of the real estate Lerchek had purchased for the family. Under the resulting arrangement, alimony for all three children was set at a fixed 150 thousand rubles per month, instead of the previous rule of a share of Artem’s income. The report, attributed to Mash Telegram, adds a layer of specificity to the post-divorce financial terms.
Earlier, Lerchek publicly appeared following a facelift, a sight noted by media coverage at the time. The appearance fed ongoing discussion about the case and the broader questions it raises regarding public figures facing legal scrutiny.