Nastya Rybka became famous after a loud scandal that became political. In January 2019, she was detained by Russian security forces. A few days later she was released, but the further fate of the girl raises concerns.
The history of a high-profile scandal
Nastya Rybka is a bright pseudonym for a girl named Anastasia Vashukevich, who is a citizen of Belarus. They started talking about her after the release of the investigative film of the Anti-Corruption Foundation of Alexei Navalny. The girl released a book about the seduction of a mysterious oligarch. At the same time, on social networks, she published photos and recordings of conversations, from which the public became aware of the existence of informal relations between businessman Oleg Deripaska and Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Prikhodko, as well as their connections with girls involved in escort services.
Oleg Deripaska went to court with a demand to remove materials related to his private life from the network. By the decision of Roskomnadzor, some videos were removed and a number of Internet sites were blocked. But the high-profile scandal still had negative consequences for his defendants.
Detention of Nastya Rybka
Nastya Rybka and her teacher Alex Leslie (Alexander Kirillov) were detained in Thailand on February 25, 2018 on charges of organizing illegal sex trainings in the country. First, it was about violation of labor laws, and then the article was replaced with a heavier one. Nastya was accused of organizing prostitution as part of a criminal group. It became clear that this arrest was not accidental and that it was profitable for someone to put Rybka behind bars.
Vashukevich sent a letter to the US Embassy with a request to grant political asylum. She stated that she has a lot of interesting information that may interest the Americans, and there is also evidence of Russian interference in the election of the current president. But the US authorities did not react to this in any way.
In January 2019, the criminal prosecution against Rybka was terminated. She and the other defendants in the case were given suspended sentences and deported to Belarus, which they never got to. Vashukevich and Kirillov were detained in the transit zone of the airport by representatives of the Russian security forces. They were charged with involvement in prostitution. But after a few days they were released from the isolation ward.
What will happen to Nastya Rybka?
Anastasia Vashukevich's conference was supposed to take place on January 23, 2019. The meeting was attended by journalists from the most popular print media and television channels, but Rybka did not appear. She later explained her behavior as being very tired.
Vashukevich and Leslie were released from the remand prison. They were not charged, but the investigation still has some questions and Nastya Rybka cannot leave the territory of Russia. The girl's lawyer Dmitry Zatsarinsky predicts an early end to all persecutions against his client. Nastya Rybka was accused of being involved in prostitution, but court practice shows that convictions are rarely made in such cases.
Experts believe that the high-profile scandal involving Vashukevich is not over yet. Oleg Deripaska, most likely, will go to court and the girl will have to pay moral damage for illegal posting of information concerning his personal life on social networks. If all issues with the investigation are settled, the best option for Nastya will be to return to Belarus. The security of her stay on Russian territory remains under threat. But Vashukevich has already stated that even if restrictions on freedom of movement are lifted, she does not plan to leave the country. Only deportation, which is one of the most likely options for further developments, can force her to leave Russia.
Nastya Rybka publicly apologized to Oleg Deripaska and promised never to mention his name in her blogs, not to comment on their relationship and not to disclose information that she knows. Alex Leslie said that he did not connect the arrests with the revenge of an influential businessman and Russian politicians. He hinted at the involvement of US stakeholders in this scandal. Perhaps this line of behavior will help Rybka avoid punishment in Russia.
