THE Kremlin has acknowledged public criticism from a glamorous Russian influencer who blasted “out-of-touch” Vladimir Putin.
Reality TV star Viktoria Bonya – who lives outside Russia – posted a video deriding officials who were not telling the truth about the country’s problems.
Viktoria Bonya posted a video claiming all is not what it seems in Russia Credit: East2West
Bonya claimed the Russian people are under intense pressure from corrupt officials Credit: East2West
Bonya spoke directly to Putin, telling the president people are afraid of him Credit: East2West
She went on to say the Russian people were under so much pressure from corrupt officials that one day they might explode.
“You know what the risk is?” Bonya said.
“That people will stop being afraid and they’re being squeezed into a coiled spring and that one day that coiled spring shoot out.”
When questioned about Bonya’s public outcry, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “Of course, we’ve seen it. It’s quite popular.
“It touches on many topics, on each of which, as you can see – as you have seen – work is actually being done.
“But, to be fair, a great deal of work is being done on them, a large number of people are involved, and none of this has been overlooked.”
In the selfie video posted to , Bonya took aim at a series of state failings.
These include a sweeping crackdown on the internet, social media and messaging apps.
Residents have been unable to communicate and such as pagers, walkie-talkies and even paper maps.
Comedian Andrei Kaygorodov shared a skit on , titled “How to use your mobile phone in the centre of Moscow.”
He is then seen using it as a table tennis racket, instead of a knife to chop a cucumber and as a trouser strap.
Bonya also accused the authorities of being too slow to respond to floods in Dagestan, and that they mishandled the outbreak of a cattle disease in Siberia.
Speaking to the Russian president directly, Bonya said: “The people are afraid of you.”
“Ordinary people are afraid, bloggers are afraid, artists are afraid.”
She warned: “The most frightening thing is that this is happening because you, Vladimir [Putin], do not know what is going on in the country.
“You are not being given accurate information.”
“There is a big wall between the people and you,” she added, blaming government officials for not telling Putin the truth.
Kremlin critics have since suggested Bonya may be in cahoots with the authorities to let the Russian people know their grievances are being heard.
This is particularly relevant given parliamentary elections are set to take place later this year.
Bonya quickly squashed these rumours, saying the appeal was solely her own work and that she was acting on behalf of the Russian people.
The anti-establishment video – titled “An appeal to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. From all concerned Russians” – has now been watched more than 20 million times, receiving over one million likes.
Viktoria Bonya is popular reality TV star in Russia Credit: East2West
Kremlin critics believe she may be in league with the authorities – claims she denies Credit: East2West
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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