By Sara Bright
Moscow is known for its lavish and extravagant parties, where the rich and the powerful mingle and flaunt their wealth and influence. But one party in particular has caused a scandal and a controversy that has shaken the Russian elite and the society at large. The party, dubbed as an “almost naked” party, was a spectacle of nudity, sexuality, and decadence, that offended the sensibilities and the values of many Russians.
The party, which took place on December 2023, was organized by Nastya Ivleeva, a popular TV presenter and blogger, who has over 25 million followers on Instagram. Ivleeva invited some of the most famous and influential celebrities and personalities in Russia, including pop star Philipp Kirkorov, singer Lolita Milyavskaya, and former presidential candidate Kseniya Sobchak.
The party was held at the Mutabor nightclub, a trendy and hip venue in Moscow, where the guests were asked to dress in minimal clothing, such as underwear, swimsuits, or body paint. The party also featured provocative and suggestive imagery, such as men kissing on the dance floor, nude photos projected on the walls.
The party did not go unnoticed by the public and the authorities, who were outraged and appalled by the display of debauchery and disrespect. Many Russians took to social media and other platforms to express their anger and disgust, and to report the party to the police and the government. They accused the party-goers of violating the anti-LGBTQ+ laws, which ban the promotion of “non-traditional sexual relations” to minors, and of insulting the traditional values and the culture of the nation. They also criticized the party for being insensitive and irresponsible.
The backlash also came from some members of the parliament and the government, who demanded an investigation and a punishment for the organizers and the attendees of the party. One of them was Maria Butina, a former Russian agent who was jailed in the US for acting as a foreign agent, and who is now a lawmaker. Butina said she had asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Culture to check if the party complied with the anti-LGBTQ+ laws, and to take appropriate measures. She also said that the party was a disgrace and a shame for the country, and that the participants should be ashamed of themselves.
The police responded to the complaints and the reports, and raided the nightclub on Friday, where they kicked out the guests and stopped others from entering.
The party revealed the contradictions and the conflicts of the Russian society, which is torn between the modern and the traditional, the liberal and the conservative, the global and the national. The party also raised questions and issues about the role and the value of art and satire, and the limits and the risks of expression and dissent.
The party may have been a joke, but it was not a laughing matter for participants. It was a reflection and a provocation, that sparked a debate and a controversy, that may have lasting consequences and implications for the art world and the society at large in Russia.
