The governor of the southern Samara region has found himself caught in the middle of a scandal after appearing to joke online about visiting a bathhouse with sex workers alongside members of his staff, the exiled news outlet Vyorstka reported on Friday.
“To the bathhouse! Call the girls,” Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev allegedly wrote on Thursday in the comments section of a local opposition Telegram channel known for criticizing him. The channel, called Sukhodrishchev, is a play on the governor’s name and a character from a 1995 Russian comedy.
Vyorstka said it verified the authenticity of the comments, which appeared to have been posted from the accounts of Fedorishchev and his aides, through leaked databases and sources familiar with the officials.
The banter, which appeared to be an inside joke, was allegedly carried out by Fedorishchev himself without the involvement of his press team, two officials in the Samara administration told Vyorstka. One source described it as the governor’s emotional response to online criticism.
Confronted by reporters on Thursday, Fedorishchev denied knowing anything about the Telegram channel, even though just last week he had praised it as “an interesting channel which I read every morning.” Before walking away, the governor added: “But since you’re asking, tell everyone to switch to [the Kremlin-backed messaging app] Max.”
At 36, Fedorishchev is Russia’s youngest regional governor and is seen by Kremlin insiders as part of a new generation of officials who embrace publicity, pick fights with local business elites and experiment with policies favored by Moscow but unpopular with local voters.
Yet his bathhouse gaffe may have gone too far. Local officials told Vyorstka they expect his dismissal, noting that the governor himself hinted at rumors of a Kremlin summons in his comments on the Telegram channel.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
