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Russian blogger Anastasia (Nastya) Ivleeva poses for a picture with rapper GeeGun during an "almost naked" party at Mutabor nightclub in Moscow, Russia, in this image published December 21, 2023.
The dressing down of Russia’s underdressed celebs
On December 20, a well-known Russian blogger and TV host threw a nightclub party in Moscow. Billed as an "Almost Naked Party," the event drew large numbers of celebrities. Then photos taken inside the club began to hit social media, and the backlash began. How, some Russians asked, can people behave so scandalously while our boys fight in Ukraine?
The event organizer now faces a class action lawsuit aimed at redirecting proceeds from the event to a veteran’s organization called Defender of the Fatherland. One especially under-dressed rapper was jailed for 15 days for "disorderly conduct" and fined for "promoting non-traditional sexual relations." Other famous partygoers face threats of public boycott and must choose between online apologies or cries for fairness. Politicians are competing to provide the most colorful expression of wartime outrage.
This is our first reminder that 2024 is an election year in Russia, and that traditional values will have a big year. It’s hard not to like President Putin’s re-election chances, but his past actions make clear he does care about public opinion and voting-day turnout. Candidates for other offices are also hoping to make names for themselves before the balloting.
So, it isn’t only the lonely dissident who faces the long arm of Russian law and threats to stay in line this year. It’s anyone in public life who hopes to remain there.
Podcast: Naked power politics challenge global democracy, says author Yascha Mounk
Listen: Confidence in democracy is declining in the West at the same time authoritarian leaders like Putin and Xi Jinping have become more transparent about their demands and lack of respect for democracy, says Johns Hopkins University professor Yascha Mounk, author of a new book, "The Great Experiment: Why Diverse Democracies Fall Apart and How They Can Endure."
On the GZERO World podcast, Mounk tells Ian Bremmer we're in a new era of naked power politics, illustrated by the way Putin is transforming Russia into a repressive regime. Putin believes the West is decadent while he views himself as a strong leader with traditional values. Meanwhile, the biggest challenges ahead for democracies like the US are racial disparities in wealth, tribalism, and extreme partisanship.
Listen to Ian Bremmer's interview with political scientist and author, Yascha Mounk.
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