A brave 18-year-old fashion influencer in Russia is facing six years in jail after her Instagram account was classified as ‘extremist activity’.
Veronika Loginova has 556,000 followers on the social networking platform and is risking the jail sentence despite uploading no political information.
She was accused by the Kuntsevskaya Interdistrict Prosecutor’s Office of ‘extremism’ by ‘performing actions to entice people to social networks Facebook and Instagram’.
In March a court in Russia banned Facebook and Instagram, stating they were ‘carrying out extremist operations’.
The country also tightened down on demonstrators and news sources following its invasion of Ukraine at the end of February.
Veronika Loginova (shown on Instagram) – a Russian fashion star – is risking six years in jail only for posting on Instagram – despite not sharing any political content
Loginova posted on Instagram in tears and claimed she wouldn’t allow the prospect of jail stop her using her account
Loginova posted on Instagram in tears, saying: ‘Any day prosecutors can come to your house.
‘I never touched politics and now I face six years in jail…for running Instagram.’
‘Good morning, you woke up in Russia. And while we don’t speak about such things, I will still speak.’
Two state prosecutors called at Loginova’s residence, stating that her audience of over 1.1 million on Instagram and YouTube implies she ‘stands out too much’.
The fashion influencer spoke about the realities of living in Russia – saying: ‘Anyone can receive a visit from police or prosecutors and be warned that there is a possibility of a six-year jail term for using Instagram’
The blogger was accused by the Kuntsevskaya Interdistrict Prosecutor’s Office of ‘extremism’ by ‘performing actions to entice people to social networks Facebook and Instagram’
The 18-year-old rushed to her Instagram account to query the assumptions: ‘Really? Do I? A fashion blogger aged 18 years old?
“An entrepreneur, designer of my own clothes line, who pays taxes to her own nation?
A blogger who writes only on mental health assistance and who has never mentioned politics on her blog?
‘Yeah. There you have it. You live, create beautiful artwork, start a business, and assist others, but you never touch anyone.
Veronika Loginova, now 18, has 556,000 Instagram followers; she began her account when she was 15 years old.
“I’ll get to the bottom of it and cover it here,” Loginova wrote on Instagram.
“However, you reside in Russia, and out of a million bloggers, they seek you out.” What do I do now? Quit Instagram? Flee Russia? Sue?
The successful beauty and fashion influencer launched her social media accounts at age 15 and has since grown her following.
She vowed that the threat would not intimidate her.
She stated on Instagram, “I’m going to get to the bottom of this and cover it.”
‘Thank goodness, I have support in the form of those who recognize that this is not typical. I want as many people as possible to know about this story, as it is utterly absurd.
Therefore, I am requesting that everyone with a voice, or even one following, express that this is NOT normal.
Russian elites continue to use Instagram enthusiastically. Ksenia Shoigu, the daughter of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, uses Instagram but maintains it in private mode.
Tatiana Navka, 47, the wife of Putin’s high-profile spokesman Dmitry Peskov (seen together), is also an avid Instagram user and has not been threatened with imprisonment.
Rossgram is Russia’s version of Instagram, however Instagram is still popular among elites and may be accessed through a virtual private network.
There is no evidence that Kremlin Instagram users were prosecuted under Putin’s harsh legislation.
Ksenia Shoigu, the daughter of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, is 31 years old. Her boyfriend, sports blogger Alexey Stolyarov, is 32 years old.
Ksenia Shoigu, daughter of the Minister of Defense, also uses Instagram, although in private mode.
Tatiana Navka, the 47-year-old wife of Putin’s high-profile spokesman Dmitry Peskov, is an avid Instagram user and has not been threatened with imprisonment.