Russian actress fined for hosting ‘almost naked’ party after calling for peace in Ukraine

Anastasia Ivleeva, a TV presenter and actress, found herself in hot water after a Moscow court imposed a 50,000-rouble (€505) fine on her for social media posts that were deemed to discredit the Russian military. The controversial figure had previously made headlines for hosting an “almost naked” party, which sparked public outrage in the traditionalist country.

Ivleeva did not appear in court for the non-criminal case, where she was fined for two social media posts made in the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling for peace and negotiations. Despite the fact that the law penalizing remarks discrediting the military was passed after the posts were made, the court found her guilty.

The posts, which included a black square with the words “No to war” and a sketch of a dove advocating for compromises to stop the killing of people, were seen as controversial in a country where any criticism of the military is heavily scrutinized.

The scandal surrounding Ivleeva intensified after the “almost naked” party she hosted at a Moscow nightclub, which drew criticism from conservative legislators and bloggers who deemed the images from the event as unpatriotic during a time of war. The incident highlighted the growing culturally conservative sentiment in Russia, fueled by nationalism amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Despite facing backlash and legal challenges, Ivleeva continues to be a polarizing figure in Russia’s media landscape, where freedom of expression is increasingly under threat.