Russia opens criminal case against bar worker for making hookah out of Easter cake
A 27-year-old bar employee is facing criminal charges in Russia after posting an Instagram video of herself using a traditional Easter kulich cake as a hookah base, captioning it: "Even Christ would rise again for something like this." The Russian Investigative Committee announced it had opened a case under the country’s law against "offending religious feelings", saying the woman had committed "public actions expressing obvious disrespect for society".
Novaya Gazeta Europe — A 27-year-old bar employee is facing criminal charges in Russia after posting an Instagram video of herself using a traditional Easter kulich cake as a hookah base, captioning it: "Even Christ would rise again for something like this. " The Russian Investigative Committee announced it had opened a case under the country’s law against "offending religious feelings", saying the woman had committed "public actions expressing obvious disrespect for society". Investigators have identified her and plan to summon her for questioning.
The case appears to have been set in motion by Vladislav Pozdnyakov, a pro-war blogger and founder of the ultranationalist and misogynist "Male State" movement. Pozdnyakov shared the video on Telegram alongside the woman's personal details, and other nationalist channels and state-backed media quickly amplified the post. The woman deleted the original post soon after it began spreading.