A State Duma deputy named Artem Metelev recently spoke with socialbites.ca to defend Russian women who were detained by police several days earlier after participating in a photo shoot on Red Square. The images showed red caviar sandwiches, and Metelev suggested that the pictures were meant to illustrate Russia’s prosperity. He argued that authorities might be better off focusing on genuine breaches of public order rather than targeting passersby for such displays.
According to Metelev, police faces numerous challenges already, and it would be more productive to address the violations of public order rather than questioning ordinary people who are attempting to communicate a message about life in Russia through a staged street moment.
On November 20, a blogger named Gulina Naumann was detained on Red Square during a shoot featuring her in a fur coat and a large sandwich with red caviar. The blogger later described the police explanation as a directive not to show off in what was described as difficult times for the country.
Eight days afterward, photographer Olga Avlasenko and her model were apprehended for creating a scene involving sandwiches on Red Square. Avlasenko stated to socialbites.ca that the authorities regarded the photo session with bagels and imitation caviar as an unauthorized event.
Video footage captured during Avlasenko’s arrest shows a police officer invoking a federal regulation, saying that such activity is prohibited on Red Square. The officer noted that while posing with caviar was not allowed, other objects like bagels and apples remained permissible for the moment, and he warned that the participants were being taken into custody for the action itself, regardless of the circumstances. The exchange underscored the tension between public display and regulatory authority on a site with highly symbolic significance.
Following several hours in a police department, both women were released without a formal report or filing. This incident added another layer to ongoing debates around public space use, expression, and how authorities enforce rules in a city known for its iconic square and its intense scrutiny of public demonstrations.
The broader incident reflects ongoing discussions about the balance between artistic expression and legal boundaries. The events on Red Square have drawn attention to how law enforcement interprets public order regulations in high-profile spaces, and how individuals navigate messaging through visual storytelling in a country where cultural symbolism often intersects with political messaging.
Observers note that Red Square remains a focal point for public life, where art, media, and everyday activities intersect with enforcement practices. In this case, the individuals involved did not face formal charges, but their experiences highlight the delicate negotiation between personal expression and the expectations of public officials on a landmark national stage.