Russian authorities’ harsh reaction to ‘almost naked’ party reportedly sparked by filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov’s comments to Putin about event

According to Russian journalist and media personality Ksenia Sobchak, President Vladimir Putin heard about the now infamous “almost naked” party from Russian filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov.

On her Telegram channel, Sobchak wrote that Mikhalkov not only told Putin about the event but also showed him a video “in which Vacio was wearing a sock.” Mikhalkov reportedly accompanied this with his own commentary “about the satanic party.”

“Putin respects and loves him, and Mikhalkov, when he needs to, can quite firmly convey his position, present arguments, and persuade others to adopt his point of view. That’s why there’s such a harsh reaction from authorities,” said Sobchak.

Journalist Farida Rustamova said that Sobchak’s assertion “seems likely to be true.” She noted that Mikhalkov’s protégés Olga Lyubimova and Yelena Yampolskaya hold posts as the Russian culture minister and the chair of the State Duma Culture Committee, respectively. According to Rustamova, Yampolskaya actively participates in campaigns against artists disliked by the authorities.