A Russian influencer who filmed herself tickling the chest of a famous Russian war statue has publicly apologized.
Alena Agafonova, 23, posed under the 85-metre statue of a woman brandishing a sword called The Motherland Calls in Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, the scene of one of the most epic battles of World War II.
He now faces five years in prison for the Instagram video in Putin’s hardline Russia.
He appears to “tickle” the figure’s right breast in some images he posted on Instagram, officially banned in Russia.
Agafonova went into hiding in Sri Lanka after the film was shot last year.
She was placed on Russia’s wanted list and detained this week when she returned to her homeland.
The video shows Alena Agafonova appearing to “tickle” the figure’s right breast in images she posted on Instagram, officially banned in Russia.
Agafonova was included on Russia’s wanted list and was detained this week when she returned to her homeland (File photo)
Agafonova was immediately transported from Moscow to Volgograd and will now be detained for two months pending further investigations.
He humbly apologized for his act, but still faces criminal proceedings in Volgograd and a sentence of up to five years.
She is accused of “desecration of a burial site” and “cynical actions that ignore the norms of morality”, as well as “rehabilitation of Nazism”.
His harassment shows the new morality in Russia under Putin amid the war with Ukraine.
Agafonova humbly apologized for her act, but still faces criminal proceedings in Volgograd and a sentence of up to five years.
The 85-meter statue of a woman brandishing a sword called The Motherland Calls in Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, scene of one of the most epic battles of World War II.
Agafonova posed under the statue. She was placed on Russia’s wanted list and was detained this week when she returned to her homeland.
Alena Agafonova. The 23-year-old went into hiding in Sri Lanka after the film was shot last year.
Authorities are cracking down on any behavior deemed unpatriotic or challenging “traditional values.”
The footage showed Agafonova handcuffed as a law enforcement officer told her: “I inform you that the investigation department of the central district of Volgograd has a criminal case against you for desecration of a symbol of Russia’s military glory, insult to the memory of defenders of the country, committed to the use of the internet…’
He appeared to have been ordered to publicly apologize, a growing trend in Putin’s repressive state toward those who disobey increasingly strict laws.
“I address all residents of Russia and Volgograd and ask you all not to commit the acts that I committed last year due to my stupidity,” he said.
‘I didn’t even think I could insult someone’s feelings.
“I apologize to all Russian citizens.”
Agafonova is taken to the police station in handcuffs. She is accused of “desecration of a burial site” and “cynical actions that ignore moral standards”, as well as “rehabilitation of Nazism”.
agafonova being escorted by agents. His harassment shows the new morality in Russia under Putin amid the war with Ukraine.
Agafonova at the police station. Authorities are cracking down on any behavior deemed unpatriotic or challenging “traditional values”
The statue is among the most famous in Russia, commemorating those who fought and died in one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, which resulted in a decisive Soviet victory against Hitler.
The USSR suffered more than one million casualties during the Battle of Stalingrad, which lasted from August 1942 to February 1943.
On the other hand, social activist Rasul Akhiyaretdinov has asked Putin to cover the statue of The Motherland Calls.
He was embarrassed by his “overtly protruding nipples” which he claimed signified “homosexual moments and a decline in morality.”
The statue, which dates back to the Soviet era in 1967, could upset both Orthodox and Muslim Russians, he said.
“It would be better if the Homeland was more covered,” Akhiyaretdinov said.
He plans to appeal to Putin to request a cover-up.
Earlier this week, two influential women were forced to abjectly apologize for a lesbian kiss they posted on social media.
Vlada Alchaeva, 24, and her friend Vika, 19, were chased by police and will also face heavy fines for disobeying laws banning LGBT “propaganda.”
Police told the pair they could “damage the psyche” of minors who watched their video under draconian new laws.