The search for Lerchek: the blogger and her husband were prosecuted for tax evasion for 300 million rubles 03/07/2023, 09:30

Valeria and her husband Artem Chekalin were looking for each other today. Law enforcement officers showed a video showing the luxury residence of a popular blogger. The corresponding document was read to Chekalin, Artyom read it carefully. The department staff showed the cars in the couple’s garage, passports, bank cards, currency that the couple had with them in bundles, and jewelry.

Criminal proceedings were initiated against the couple. According to the Moscow Investigative Committee, the Chekalins failed to pay more than 300 million rubles in taxes on profits received from fitness marathons. According to the investigators, the bloggers used a simplified tax system with an allowed income limit of 150 million per year for two years and received significantly more profit from the fitness marathons than they claimed.

Valeria did not want to switch to the general tax system and pay VAT and personal income tax imposed by this tax regime, while her husband, relatives and friends were accomplices. In addition, according to the investigation, Lerchek illegally divided the store. Chekalin faces up to three years in prison.

Forbes calls 30-year-old Valeria “one of the most famous bloggers in Russia.” In 2020, the magazine estimated Chekalina’s advertising income for the year at $610,000, which is about 46 million rubles at the current exchange rate.

The Chekalins were already at the center of a scandal last year. In the summer, Lerchek was fined for an uncoordinated gathering of fans at Patriarch’s Ponds. Valeria gave out free cosmetics to fans, which drew a crowd. Those present disturbed the movement of the residents of nearby houses. Members of the National Guard arrived at the scene of the incident.

In December, Chekalina accused her close friend Elvira Yankovska of cheating. Lerchek claimed the stylist sold her items from Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Hermes, which turned out to be fakes. Valeria went to court and demanded 8 million rubles from Yankovskaya. Elvira filed a counterclaim. Law enforcement did not find the stylist guilty.