Bastrykin threatened bloggers with new criminal cases

The head of the Russian Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin warned bloggers against paying taxes, calling economic crime a serious problem. In an interview with RIA Novosti, he emphasized that some bloggers earn millions, but at the same time they do not give the state a penny, which is unacceptable for the country “in the current situation”.

“I would like to emphasize that this is not a trend – claims against them are no different than claims against any other business: there are clear and simple rules for everyone to follow,” he said.

On Sunday, July 23, the Telegram Mash channel reported that the Russian Federal Tax Service has drawn up a second list of famous bloggers and artists suspected of tax evasion. It includes over 100 names of celebrities who actively use social media to promote their personal brands.

Financial records and accounts of all suspects will be thoroughly investigated by FTS specialists. Specialists will test them for working for cash without closing records, avoiding 13% income tax and creating several individual entrepreneurs for friends and relatives.

The Investigative Committee began mass scrutiny of millionaire bloggers after initiating criminal cases against popular authors. Among them are Elena Blinovskaya, the author of the Marathon of Wishes, with 5.3 million subscribers, and Aleksandra Mitroshina, with 4.2 million subscribers, who were engaged in sports, healthy eating, travel and online content promotion.

Fitness blogger Valeria Chekalina, known as Lerchek, with 10 million followers, and her husband Artem Chekalin were also accused. They are suspected of tax evasion, as well as money laundering in the amount of 130 million rubles.