Top 5 Scandals That Rocked Russia in 2025
Not long ago, the name of Russian people«s artist Larisa Dolina was associated with music shows and the song »Weather in the House.« By the end of the year, the singer had become the country»s main anti-hero, provoking the «Dolina effect.»
The «Dolina effect» is the popular name for a fraudulent scheme where a seller, most often an elderly person, sells their apartment, then goes to court to have the deal declared invalid, pretending to be a victim of fraud or incapacitated. This way, the seller gets back both the apartment and the money received.
In 2024, Dolina sold her apartment for 112 million rubles (approximately $1.2 million at current rates) to entrepreneur Polina Lurie. But later she claimed to be a victim of phone scammers and conducted the deal under pressure from fraudsters. The court sided with the artist, recognized the singer as a victim, and returned the property. Meanwhile, buyer Polina Lurie was left without both the money and the home.
A wave of anger from ordinary citizens swept over the singer by the end of 2025, when people across the country began being «scammed» using a similar scheme. As a result, Lurie managed to achieve justice in the Supreme Court: the case was sent for review, and during the litigation, the apartment in the elite Khamovniki district will remain with the businesswoman.
«It was like hypnosis»: Larisa Dolina publicly explains herself for the «scheme» for the first time
Who is the main victim of the «Dolina effect» Polina Lurie and where did she get 112 million
How the court decided who gets the apartment in Khamovniki — a report
Left Deripaska with debts and betrayed a colleague: what is known about the judge who spawned the «Dolina effect»
«That scheme involves 17 properties!» A walk through prestigious Khamovniki, where Dolina«s apartment is located
Polygamist Ivan Sukhov: Family or Cult?
Ivan Sukhov became famous across the country a year ago. In an interview with journalist Sasha Sulim, he said that he has three wives and almost 30 children — he dreams of 50 heirs.
According to the Muscovite, he forbids his wives from working and socializing with friends. Sukhov«s children are homeschooled. He stated that he raises his daughters to be »extremely submissive,« preparing them for »early marriage« and polygamy. This caused widespread public outcry.
The children«s ombudsman of Moscow defended Sukhov, while deputies demanded that social services check the family. Along with a storm of criticism, the polygamist faced problems with law enforcement.
Ivan Sukhov«s eldest daughter Anna on the TV show »Let Them Talk« accused her father of sexualized violence. He was charged under an article on lewd acts, which carries a penalty of up to 3 years in prison. He did not admit guilt and claimed that his daughter slandered him.
«He made me touch him»: Polygamist«s daughter recounts his atrocities
»Are these our traditional values?« How the scandal around Ivan Sukhov developed
Scandalous polygamist from Moscow has his 30th child
»He imagined himself a little king«: Muscovites outraged by story of father of 29 children
Kreed vs. Mizulina
The head of the «Safe Internet League,» Yekaterina Mizulina, and rapper Egor Kreed have been airing their grievances online for a long time, but this year the conflict escalated further. The trigger was the artist«s performance at Luzhniki.
The scandal erupted due to explicit choreography by the show ballet and a kissing number. Viewers questioned the mismatch between the «12+» age restriction and the erotic nature of the performances.
Mizulina did not miss the opportunity to comment on this topic, filed complaints with authorities, and additionally reminded the rapper of her old grievances — accusing Kreed of ties with foreign agents and advertising casinos.
The singer himself, in response to the activist«s accusations, stated that kisses are a normal part of healthy relationships and there is nothing criminal about it. He added that Mizulina destroyed the marriage of SHAMAN during the Year of the Family. He also recalled how the couple kissed on stage in front of students from a Moscow school.
The quarrel again remained only in the media sphere — neither of the drama«s protagonists faced serious consequences. Egor Kreed, a week later, participated in a religious procession through the capital, then continued giving concerts. Mizulina received a political party as a gift from SHAMAN and married him in Donetsk.
Called the main «scammer of the country.» Egor Kreed sues Yekaterina Mizulina
«Teenage girls will now start dancing striptease.» Mizulina clashes with Kreed over dances
«He will jump on stage, she — in the State Duma.» Astrologers predict how long the marriage of SHAMAN and Mizulina will last
The Dibrov-Tovstik Divorce Scandal
Divorces among celebrity couples are not uncommon and usually stay within the pages of gossip columns. But this one went far beyond and became the subject of large-scale public discussions.
This year, what seemed like a peaceful end to the 16-year marriage of TV host Dmitry Dibrov with his young wife Polina turned sour when it was revealed that the woman«s new choice was married businessman Roman Tovstik, father of six.
Not accepting her husband«s infidelity, Yelena Tovstik began revealing unsavory details of her marriage to the entrepreneur. Betrayals, shamanic rituals, and swinger clubs — everything in the context of the Tovstik family was discussed by the entire country in 2025.
How Roman Tovstik, who left his wife with six children, made his billions — you«ll be surprised
»I was abandoned like in an orphanage«: Yelena Tovstik recalls her husband»s cruel antics
«To cheat and go bald like a bean»: TV host Dibrov first reacts to ex-wife«s relationship with businessman Tovstik
The Return of Burnashkina
The story of 18-year-old Yekaterina Burnashkina shocked the world back in October 2024. The girl gave birth to a child in the toilet of Antalya Airport and left her daughter in the toilet, then went to check-in at the airport. She was detained there — in Turkey.
Already in February 2025, a court in Turkey sentenced her to 15 years in prison. Burnashkina«s daughter was in a local orphanage until June this year, when she was brought to Russia. Here, the baby already has a foster family and was given the name Nicole.
In July, all charges against Burnashkina in Turkey were dropped, and she was released from prison. She then returned to Russia and declared that she would fight for her child. This caused a major uproar online: many condemned the girl for this desire.
Her fight for her daughter was unsuccessful: upon arrival, a new case was opened against the girl — already in Russia. This prevented her from regaining Nicole.
«I thought — it was my period, but those were contractions.» Russian woman who gave birth at Antalya Airport returns home and will sue for her daughter
«He acted badly.» Yekaterina Burnashkina — on rape and why she hides the child«s father
How the fate of baby Nicole unfolded, whom her mother left to die in a Turkish airport toilet
