Verdict against Lerchek in the case of transfers abroad enters into force

Appeal takes effect without Chekalina

The verdict against blogger Valeria Chekalina, known as Lerchek, in the case of illegally transferring more than 250 million rubles abroad has entered into legal force. This became known at a hearing of the Moscow City Court, reports a Life.ru correspondent.

What the appeal changed

The appellate instance changed the decision of Moscow's Gagarinsky Court only regarding the additional punishment: the three-year ban on administering websites on the internet was removed from the verdict. In all other respects the verdict stands — in July, the Gagarinsky Court sentenced Chekalina to five years of suspended imprisonment with a three-year probation period and a fine of more than 763.5 million rubles. During the probation period, she is required to check in with the relevant state authority at least once a month; the court also ordered that the details of the blogger's children be included in the verdict.

The essence of the charges and the parties' positions

Chekalina was found guilty of conducting currency operations to transfer money to the accounts of non-residents using documents containing false information. According to the prosecution, from September 2021 to February 2022, more than 251 million rubles earned from selling online courses were transferred abroad. Both sides appealed the verdict: the defense insisted on acquittal, while the prosecution asked to increase the suspended sentence to six years and tighten the additional restrictions — the appeal denied these requests.

Hospitalization before the hearing

Earlier, on the morning of November 5, Lerchek was urgently taken to hospital, which is why she was unable to attend the appeal hearing in person. According to Life.ru, the blogger is being treated for cancer.