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Russia Intensifies Cases Against Influencers With Prison Sentence, New Charges and Child-Fraud Probe

Authorities frame the actions as a crackdown on the monetization of digital fame.

Overview

  • Moscow’s Presnensky District Court sentenced entrepreneur and blogger Ayaz Shabutdinov to seven years in a general‑regime colony and a 5 million‑ruble fine for organized large‑scale fraud, with investigators citing 113 victims and losses exceeding 57 million rubles.
  • Investigators opened cases against blogger Elizaveta Batyuta (Liza Miller) for alleged tax evasion of more than 130 million rubles and money laundering, plan to indict her in absentia and place her on a wanted list, and say she is abroad, reportedly in Dubai.
  • Corporate records reviewed by media show Miller closed her Russian sole proprietorship in early 2025, as investigators analyze her financial operations for possible additional offenses.
  • The case against blogger Alexandra Mitroshina for alleged legalization of over 127 million rubles has been completed and sent to court, with investigators stating she initially admitted guilt before partially retracting and that a prior tax‑evasion case was dropped after repayment.
  • In Saint Petersburg, a court placed suspects including Sergey Sidorenko and Stepan Chudin under home arrest in a scheme that tricked minors into sending parents’ card photos and SMS codes, with police now linking the group to about 30 episodes across regions and at least 5 million rubles in damage.