RUSSIA’S ‘Naked Partygate’ scandal deepened today when it was revealed Vladimir Putin personally ordered a crackdown on “debauched” revellers.
He took time out from masterminding the war in Ukraine and his failing economy to crack the whip against Moscow stars whose risqué antics offended his frontline troops, reported Baza news outlet.
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X-rated pictures and videos of a lurid two-day party held in club Mutabor were personally inspected by the disapproving dictator, who demanded retribution.
“The artists attending the ‘naked’ party started having problems after the servicemen taking part in the [military campaign] became outraged by the party – and the photos and videos reached Vladimir Putin,” reported Baza.
“The party’s participants were informed that they would now have big problems.”
Even his celebrity ‘goddaughter’ Ksenia Sobchak, 42 – a major TV personality, presidential candidate and ex-Playboy model – was forced to make a humbling video apology for her presence at the hedonistic high society jamboree.
Putin’s fury evidently triggered a major tax probe against party host Nastya Ivleeva, 32, who could be forced to pay £1.1 million in arrears and face up to five years in jail.
At the event she had boasted that she wore £200,000 [23 million roubles] diamonds and emeralds on her “skinny” backside – but now she faces two separate criminal cases, reports revealed.
In a teary and emotional video, the influencer, TV presenter, socialite and ex-editor of Playboy Russia made her second apology in as many days after being faced with Putin’s wrath.
She confessed she had “flown off the handle” by organising the “almost naked” glitteratski party in wartime when hundreds of thousands of Russians have sacrificed their lives or limbs for Putin’s debilitating war.
She made clear it felt as if Putin was forcing her to undergo “public execution”.
“Whoever was hurt by this [party], no-one deserves it,” she confessed.
“They say Russia can forgive.
“If that’s true, I’d really like to ask you, the people, for a second chance.
“And if it’s not, then public execution has never been cancelled…
“Which is probably already happening now, but I will not dodge [my punishment] and I am ready for any outcome.”
Many believed Putin has waded into the scandal to win votes and divert attention from his costly war and sinking sanctions-hit economy – yet few doubt his ability to extract vengeance if it suits him.
The Mutabor club venue was today closed by state investigators as probes into the party went ahead, despite such events being commonplace in Moscow earlier in Putin’s long Kremlin reign.
The “debauched” gathering involving high society Moscow stars was likened to Sodom and Gomorrah by critics.
One reveller – Rapper Vacio, 25, real name Nikolai Vasilyev, who provoked outrage by wearing nothing but a Balenciaga sock on his manhood – has been jailed for 15 days and fined £1,710 for petty hooliganism and “gay propaganda”.
He recorded a video stating: “I want to say that I do not support LGBT and did not want to make any propaganda about this.
“I apologise for offending the feelings of other people and being a participant in such a terrible video at such a difficult time for our country [due to the war].”
Famous singer Philipp Kirkorov, 56, was forced to explain his attendance at the party to a senior Kremlin official, Putin’s spokesman and deputy chief of staff Dmitry Peskov, who demanded: ‘What did you do there?”
He claimed he had seen what was going on, and made his excuses and left.
However, a picture showed him evidently enjoying the revelry alongside host Ivleeva.
He, too, recorded an apology.
A shamed Sobchak – who’s childhood Orthodox baptism was attended by Putin long before he was president – said: “I can tell you that for myself, and my friends, I definitely did not want to offend anyone.
“If anyone was offended by my appearance, I apologise for this.
“I love my country, I am a journalist who works in Russia.
“And I want everyone to know that I do not want to cause this feeling of hatred and anger towards me or other artists because of such stupid accidents.”
She appeared at the party in a nude-coloured Sorelle outfit.
Earlier she had dismissed the need to apologise.
“Where and when grown-ups go with a bare bum is their own business,” she said before changing her tune after Kremlin anger.
“The world isn’t fair – it always has been this way, is and always will be.
“Somewhere people are being killed, somewhere children are starving, and somewhere else [people are] drinking champagne at the same time.
“No mourning can last forever.”
Aside from any criminal action, a class action lawsuit means they could anyway be fined huge sums – up to £8.5 million – which will be sent to support Putin’s fighters in Ukraine.
Former Eurovision contestant Dima Bilan, 42, said: “ I perfectly understand the indignation of our people, and even more so of our guys who protect us on the front line.”
Performers are losing work over the lucrative New Year period after attending the party.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, a close Putin ally, demanded the celebrities should be sent to work in canteens and laundries helping troops prepare for war.
Ekaterina Mizulina, member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, said: “Our soldiers at the front are definitely not fighting for this.”
Frothing TV propagandist Vladimir Solovyov stormed: “How morally deaf do you have to be?
“Our boys are now fighting at the front.
“To what extent should you understand nothing at all about the country, about Putin?
“The Supreme Commander-in-Chief raises a glass to our Victory, and you b******s – who do you support?
“You cannot even imagine how people hate and despise you.”
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