The Kremlin publicly acknowledged sharp criticism of Russian authorities after a prominent social media influencer warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that mounting pressure on ordinary Russians could one day trigger unrest, Reuters reported on Thursday.
The criticism appeared on Tuesday, when Viktoria Bonya, a celebrity blogger and former reality TV personality, posted a video appeal to Putin that drew more than 20 million views on Instagram, despite the platform being officially banned in Russia.
“Vladimir Vladimirovich, they’re afraid of you. The people are afraid of you; bloggers, artists are afraid; governors are afraid of you. But you are the president of our country. I don’t think we should be afraid of you,” said Bonya
In the video, Bonya said she supports Putin but accused lawmakers and officials of misinforming him about the country’s real problems, arguing that heavy pressure on the population is pushing society toward a breaking point.
“You know what the risk is? That people will stop being afraid,” Bonya said, describing Russians as being “squeezed into a coiled spring.”
When asked about the video, Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the Kremlin had seen it and acknowledged its popularity.
“It touches on many topics,” Peskov said, adding that work was underway to address the issues raised.
The remarks come amid reported dissatisfaction over mobile internet shutdowns and a renewed push to restrict access to the Telegram messaging app and other various social media platforms.
Some Kremlin critics suggested the video may have been tolerated or coordinated to allow public grievances to be aired ahead of parliamentary elections later this year.
Reuters noted that the appeal reflects a recurring narrative in Russian political culture portraying Putin as a leader kept in the dark by officials beneath him.