Former Harmony followers in Samara sue journalists over exposé
After a series of publications about the activities of the Samara training center «Harmony» and its founder Ella Prudnikova, active discussion of lawsuits began in the closed chats of training participants. But this time, the targets are not the organizers of the center, but the journalists who told this story. The editorial office of 63.RU has obtained screenshots of correspondence where group participants, enchanted by the trainings, are agreeing to file lawsuits for the use of their images without consent in TV stories and articles.
The discussion unfolded after the broadcast of the TV show «Malahov» on a federal channel, dedicated to «Harmony». One of the participants close to the center«s management directly stated in the chat that she is preparing a lawsuit to court in connection with the illegal use of her image without consent. The woman urged everyone who agrees with such a lawsuit to write to her in private messages.
This proposal found a response. Some participants ironically noted that they saw themselves on air («Oh, I»m in Andrey Malakhov«s photo. Almost famous»), others expressed readiness to join the lawsuit. At the same time, disagreements arose in the chat. One participant wrote with relief that she was «not exposed,» to which another interlocutor sneered: «Not a fact, there are many sources.»
The discussion quickly went beyond the discussion of lawsuits and turned into a debate about how to evaluate the training itself and journalistic materials.
Supporters of lawsuits and defenders of «Harmony»s« reputation directly stated that questions about loans should be resolved in court, not on TV shows. They oppose participants being called »silly girls« and believe that »undermining complete trust [in the training tools] is not right.« Another participant supported this opinion, writing: »I don«t understand at all what the training has to do with it, which essentially gave us a lot.»
This split in the chat reflected a larger story that 63.RU has been investigating in detail throughout January. In our materials, dozens of former clients and employees of the center described a multi-stage scheme: from expensive trainings with methods that break personal boundaries to systematic loans, pressure to take out credits, and the creation of shell companies. The total amount of claims was estimated at tens of millions of rubles (hundreds of thousands of dollars at current rates).
Recently, we reported that the training center was evicted from Gagarin Street for rent arrears, and that a criminal case for fraud was initiated. However, so far against an «unidentified person.» One of the persons involved in the investigation, Alexander Pozdnyakov, was officially recognized as a victim.
