Elena Blinovskaya marks 45th birthday behind bars

Five years ago, at a gala marking her 40th birthday, Philipp Kirkorov sang, and guests on stage were entertained by well-known journalist Ksenia Sobchak and Ivan Urgant, one of the most sought-after TV hosts of the time. The media vied with one another to cover the lavish celebration in Altai, whose cost exceeded 100 million rubles (about $1.1 million).

Such a celebration was thrown in her own honor by the “queen of marathons,” blogger Elena Blinovskaya of Yaroslavl. In 2021, her name was synonymous with a life of luxury.

Three years later, in 2023, she was detained on charges of tax evasion. Later she was convicted and sent to a penal colony for 4.5 years. In 2026, Elena Blinovskaya«s name appears in court reports alongside petitions for her release, her husband is in the combat zone of the “special military operation” (the war in Ukraine), and their four children are being raised by elderly parents.

On 25 August 2026, the blogger who built a business empire on the dreams of millions and lost it in a matter of months turns 45.

How does her family live now, and how do old acquaintances remember Blinovskaya? This article tells the story of a blogger who became a phenomenon in Russia«s modern history.

Childhood in a panel block

Although Elena, then still Ostanina, was not born in Yaroslavl but in Kirov Oblast, she has close ties to the capital of the Golden Ring. Her parents moved there with her and her younger brother when the future millionaire was just five years old.

The family settled in one of the standard panel buildings on Sergo Ordzhonikidze Street in the Zavolzhsky District of the city. Elena lived with her parents until she came of age. The future “queen of marathons”« mother worked as an accountant, and her father ran his own veterinary service with house calls.

The family was not in need, but the elder Ostanins raised their children strictly and set an example of a love of work: Elena herself said that in winter her father and mother often took on extra work as caretakers, shoveling snow at the kindergarten near their home.

In Yaroslavl, Elena attended schools No. 59 and 96. Then, on her mother«s advice, she completed a master»s degree in accounting at Demidov Yaroslavl State University.

The panel building where the Ostanin family lived is no different from dozens of similar ones in the district. The pale green paint in the entrance hall has peeled in places, and outside the facade is patched, as if with pieces of insulation.

Literally a couple of people here remember their star neighbor — many residents have changed over the years. But people are in no hurry to talk about Elena. One pensioner admitted she had not spoken to her neighbors. A second said she was already tired of conversations about her.

“There«s no one here, they haven»t lived here for a long time. Maybe they just pay for the apartment — that«s all. I»ve already been asked about everything and shown on television. It«s become tiresome. I don»t want to say anything,” the pensioner said, hurriedly unlocking her apartment.

Apparently, no one really lives in the Ostanins« apartment. The light is not on even in the vestibule, and no one answers a knock at the door. In the corridor by the door there are no signs of active daily life. Elena Blinovskaya»s father and mother probably have not been here for a long time.

A painful breakup and meeting her future husband

Elena«s personal life in Yaroslavl was turbulent — her first love became a painful experience in terms of relationships. After a breakup with a young man, she sank into a long depression. She spoke about this period in an interview with Svetlana Bondarchuk. Elena admitted that she practically could not get out of bed and wanted nothing.

Later, Elena pulled herself together and went out with a friend to one of Yaroslavl«s fashionable venues. There she met her future husband, Alexei Blinovsky.

In 2007, when Elena was 25, the couple married. And this union proved strong. For their tenth wedding anniversary, the Blinovskys invited Elena Temnikova.

After finishing her studies, Elena got a job as a secretary at the Dream advertising agency, where she was quickly promoted. She did not work at the firm for long. According to her, she left salaried employment just as she was offered an even higher position. Elena then realized that working for someone else was not her calling.

At the agency itself, people shy away from conversations about their former employee. Asked by a 76.RU correspondent about the subject, they replied:

“We do not wish to discuss this matter.”

From the wedding business to the “Marathon of Desires”

With her husband«s support, Elena opened the “Wedding Commotion” salon in Yaroslavl, located in the “house with an arch” at 21 Sovetskaya Street. However, in the early 2010s the business was sold, and by 2026 the salon was no longer operating.

From 2013 to 2015, Elena stayed at home and devoted herself to raising her children. By then the couple had three boys.

During maternity leave, Blinovskaya grew bored and began to take an interest in personal growth, reading psychology books and taking courses. Elena was a student of world-renowned experts and life coaches such as Anthony Robbins, John Kehoe, John Gray, Lise Bourbeau and Eckhart Tolle.

Gradually Elena developed her own courses. She created chat groups with friends in messaging apps, where she gave them assignments and charged a small fee. That was how the first “Marathons of Desires” were born. The business took off.

Realizing that her friends were drawn in, she decided to expand her audience by attracting followers from social media. The first courses drew several dozen people and cost around a couple of thousand rubles (about $25 at current rates). Elena invested in advertising with bloggers. Unexpectedly the project took off and went mass-market as early as 2016. In her marathons she talked about how to make wishes properly, work with the subconscious and even overcome infertility.

Around the same time she gained popularity by winning the Mrs. Russia — International beauty contest. But that level did not compare with the fame Elena achieved a few years later.

She brought Temnikova to Yaroslavl

Elena made a splash in Yaroslavl in 2017, marking her tenth wedding anniversary in style. The novice coach invited former Serebro singer Elena Temnikova to the celebration. Beautiful footage about love, family and wealth reinforced her status as a “fairy — granter of wishes.”

A year later, in 2018, Blinovskaya registered the phrase “marathon of desires” as a trademark. The project grew. The coach assembled a team to handle the ever-increasing flows of students to her courses. There were many people eager to buy information on how to make their lives ideal. That same year the family moved from Yaroslavl to the capital.

By then the marathons cost around 3,000–10,000 rubles (about $35–115 at current rates) for the basic version. One could listen to advice on finances, relationships, self-belief and more. VIP tariffs were priced at 200,000–300,000 rubles (about $2,300–3,400 at current rates).

In the capital, Elena completed a professional retraining program at Lomonosov Moscow State University in “practical personality psychology in the sphere of interpersonal communication and business.” The diploma added status to the owner of a coaching business.

Elena Blinovskaya«s life in the capital quickly became a social whirl. She threw high-profile parties. One of the most discussed topics in the summer of 2021 was the celebration of the “queen of marathons»” 40th birthday. The internet star held a lavish reception in Altai, spending 119 million rubles (about $1.3 million) on it. She was entertained at the celebration by leading show business stars, such as Philipp Kirkorov. Afterwards Blinovskaya was invited onto the talk show “Let Them Talk” (16+), where she fended off attacks from guests who called her activities “a throwback to the «90s.”

People treated Elena in different ways. Some considered her a fairy granting wishes, others called her business “info-gypsy” scheming. But her popularity grew: by the early 2020s her follower count on the banned social network exceeded 4 million.

The Sobchak interview and uncomfortable talk about money

Blinovskaya«s activities drew the attention of well-known journalist and TV host Ksenia Sobchak. The conversation turned scandalous: money remained the main unresolved topic. Sobchak wanted to know how Blinovskaya had built her business empire, which employed at least 200 people. According to Forbes, in 2020 Blinovskaya»s revenue was 330 million rubles (about $3.6 million), and profit 200 million rubles (about $2.2 million). Elena answered pointed questions evasively.

“The sum you just named — I currently pay roughly that much in taxes… I pay tens of millions in taxes. Well, that definitely goes beyond figures with lots of zeros. But I may be wrong about the figure, because I«m very bad with them. My chief accountant is one of my close friends; the exact figures are known to her, because she pays those taxes. But I know for sure that it»s not tens of millions of rubles,” the blogger answered evasively.

“I«m no celestial being”

The foundation of Elena Blinovskaya«s business empire cracked in the spring of 2023. That was when high-profile raids on bloggers began. Authorities were looking for those who hid their income from the state while showing off the trappings of a luxurious life to followers on social media.

Talk began that Elena Blinovskaya would soon have to account for her income too. By then, in addition to running her business, she was raising three sons and a daughter born to the couple in 2020.

At the time, 76.RU contacted Elena, and she said she certainly would not want investigators to come to her.

“Naturally, questions can arise for absolutely anyone. Just as they can for you, and for everyone. That is, I«m no different in this respect, I»m no celestial being. I«m an ordinary person,” Elena told a 76.RU correspondent.

The “luxury” party and pre-trial detention

We contacted Elena Blinovskaya on 22 March 2023. A little more than a month later, on 27 April, she was detained while trying to leave Russia on suspicion of tax evasion. Blinovskaya was found to owe almost 1.5 billion rubles (about $16 million), including fines and penalties. Elena was placed under house arrest; she asked for the measure to be changed to a ban on certain actions. But the court was adamant. Moreover, in January 2024 she was sent to a pre-trial detention center.

The reason was a high-profile corporate party that Blinovskaya threw while under house arrest. Also present was a witness in her criminal case — entrepreneur Victoria Asmolova. Photos leaked online, and the prosecution used the event as grounds to tighten the measure for the mother of four. She had been in detention ever since.

After lengthy proceedings, on 3 March 2025 a Moscow court delivered its verdict. Blinovskaya was found guilty of tax evasion and money laundering and sentenced to five years in prison. In October 2025 the sentence was reduced — to four years and six months with a fine of 950,000 rubles (about $10,200 at current rates).

What«s happening with the family

After the criminal case was opened, Blinovskaya«s business fell apart. At the end of 2024 she was declared bankrupt, and the family»s apartment in the elite Moscow residential complex “Donskoy Olympus,” according to RIA Novosti, was sold for 90 million rubles (about $1 million). Blinovskaya«s brother said that during the proceedings his parents» property was seized.

Elena«s family ran into problems after what happened. After the criminal prosecution began, her husband Alexei Blinovsky went to the combat zone of the “special military operation” (the war in Ukraine). This became known in April 2024. In 2025 he returned to Moscow several times, including to take part in court hearings in his wife»s case. In August 2025 Alexei Blinovsky was spotted in the capital. He was involved in a traffic accident while riding a motorcycle.

Custody of the couple«s minor children was taken by Alexei Blinovsky»s parents. Elena«s father, Oleg Ostanin, spoke about this in an interview with Super.

Elena and Alexei Blinovsky have four children: a 17-year-old son, 15-year-old twins and a 6-year-old daughter.

“When possible, I see my grandchildren during the holidays or visit them at summer camps. For the children the situation [with Elena] is really hard; they have seen a psychologist. But they«re tough kids, they can stand up for themselves,” Oleg Ostanin told journalists in the summer of 2025.

At the same time, the “queen of marathons«” mother, Nina Ostanina, said the children are struggling with the separation from her. The youngest daughter was separated from her mother at the age of three.

The children now live in Yaroslavl. This information is also confirmed by a 76.RU source who worked at a suburban children«s camp where Blinovskaya»s sons stayed in the summer of 2025.

“Everything is bad”

Alexei Blinovsky continues to serve in the combat zone of the “special military operation.” Criminal cases against him had previously been opened for money laundering on an especially large scale and tax evasion. While he is in the combat zone, all of them are suspended.

Nina and Oleg Ostanin rarely answer journalists« questions about their daughter. When a 76.RU journalist contacted Elena»s father and said the newsroom was preparing a piece for the blogger«s 45th birthday, he replied:

“Thank you, wish her a happy birthday. That«s it, goodbye.”

Asked how the family is coping with what is happening, he answered briefly: “Everything is bad” and hung up.

What Elena Blinovskaya is doing now

Elena Blinovskaya is serving her sentence at women«s penal colony No. 1 in Vladimir Oblast. There she works as a seamstress. According to her lawyer Bulat Soltakhanov, she works full days. Little time remains for rest or any kind of entertainment.

“It«s hard to assess the probabilities, but we hope the court will hear us at a certain instance. She can already apply [for parole]. Work is under way, everything is in process. Both the appeals and cassation instances have been passed. We plan to go further. So far the courts have not accepted our arguments. We hope that in the future we will succeed,” the rights advocate said.

The lawyer says Elena«s situation cannot be called catastrophic. But in the colony she finds it hard.

“She holds on, she«s a fighter. But naturally it»s hard for her. Given that visits with family and children are limited. The regime of the institution where she is held is tough. This is the standard situation for such institutions. She goes to work almost all the time, and she devotes her free time to public events organized by the institution. She tries to take part in amateur performances and so on,” Bulat Soltakhanov said.

When Elena was in pre-trial detention center No. 6 “Pechatniki,” Komsomolskaya Pravda reported that the former blogger had taken up paint-by-numbers and embroidering pictures with beads. However, now, according to the rights advocate, she has no time for such hobbies.

“She certainly has no time to paint there. If there is any creativity there, it«s within what is organized at the institution»s initiative. Various competitions, amateur performances tied to holidays. In short, she tries to take part in all of it. She succeeds. It«s not so much a distraction [from the daily grind in the colony] as involvement in what the institution initiates,” the lawyer said.

“That is, there is practically no time for her own [hobbies]. Because, as I said, the institution has a fairly strict regime,” the lawyer explained.

“She could be given the chance to reunite with her family”

Bulat Soltakhanov also said that the children of Elena and Alexei really do have a hard time. While their mother is in the colony and their father is fighting in the “special military operation,” they live with their grandparents.

“They are, without exaggeration, in an extremely difficult situation. She [Elena] has already borne enough responsibility. It would seem she could be given the chance to reunite with her family, but unfortunately she has not yet received such a chance. The children are effectively without a mother and without a father. The grandparents, due to their frail health, can no longer fully care for them, unfortunately,” the lawyer said.

As already mentioned, Elena«s youngest and long-awaited daughter has lived without her mother for three years. Because of this, the former coach grieves most of all.

“In effect, she has even missed the best years [of her life]. Every mother dreams of experiencing that time when the child is still small. But here she has not been able to,” Bulat Soltakhanov said.

If Elena Blinovskaya«s lawyers do not secure parole, then, given the time spent under house arrest and in pre-trial detention, she will be released around the end of summer 2027.

“We«re in touch”

Elena«s loved ones are also waiting for her release. A friend of the former “queen of marathons,” psychologist Yulia Salnikova, told 76.RU that she continues to communicate with her.

“We«re in touch with Elena. We have the opportunity to exchange letters through the letter-sending system. And we help with whatever is needed. Of course I»m waiting for Elena«s release. And not only me, but also a large number of girls and women for whom Elena was and remains the person who at one time gave each of them support and a shoulder to lean on,” Yulia Salnikova said.

A story made for TV series

Meanwhile, more and more films and series about the info-business are appearing in cinema. And many are sure that the prototype for the main heroines in such pictures was none other than Elena Blinovskaya.

For example, on 29 August the detective series “Miracle” (18+) premieres, starring Ida Galich. The central figure in the plot is personal growth coach Mia. She helps people understand their hidden desires and change their lives, but everyone has to pay their own price for a dream come true.

Ida Galich herself, by the way, reacted negatively to comparisons between her character and Blinovskaya.

“Guys, I won«t even argue. You»re right in some ways. The series is about a wonderful world in which anything is possible: billions of rubles, millions of followers and thousands of wishes and dreams. But. Riding on Blinovskaya now is somehow no longer comme il faut. The person is in pre-trial detention. I wouldn«t want to whip a mother of many children once again. Let»s stop bringing up Lena at every convenient opportunity,” Ida Galich wrote in her Telegram channel.

Elena Blinovskaya«s story also formed the basis of the series “The Spider Woman” (18+) about a fraudster blogger. The main heroine will be a “wish fairy,” played by actress Elena Lyadova.

According to the plot, the main heroine Mila has made a fortune on wish marathons, which nearly landed her in prison. A lawyer manages to get her out of pre-trial detention, but all her accounts are frozen and her reputation is tarnished.

Judging by the description on the Premier website, despite all the difficulties, Mila finds an advantage even in the circumstances and develops an even more sophisticated scheme for fraudulent earnings, since she has nothing to lose. The premiere is scheduled for 2026, but the exact release date has not yet been announced.