Instagram is a huge part of life for many people, including Russia. And if it’s blocked, the effects could be devastating.
The country’s government is already threatening to take action against the social media giant. It’s believed that calls to commit violence against Russians are on the platform, prosecutors say.
Elizaveta Peskova
The daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman is known for her social media postings of glitzy red carpets, Kylie Minogue tunes and family photos. But her political views have also triggered criticism from the opposition.
Peskova, 24, has also made headlines for her role as an intern for a French MEP. Her internship has raised concerns about her access to Parliament’s databases and meetings.
She is also a model and figure skater. She shares updates on her skating school and ice shows on Instagram with hashtags such as #pescofamily.
Several months ago, she traveled to Chechnya, where she met and danced with Kremlin-backed strongman Ramzan Kadyrov. She has also traveled to Sevastopol, where she visited a shipyard that’s locked in a land dispute with the local government.
She is also a mother of two children. Her mother, Ekaterina Solotsinskaya, is a philologist and heads the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Paris. Her father, Dmitry Sergeevich Peskov, is a diplomat and former press secretary for the Russian president.
Victor Bout
Victor Bout, the man who inspired the 2005 film Lord of War and was dubbed the Merchant of Death, was a polyglot who built an international arms empire through the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Using air cargo companies and old Soviet military planes, Bout was said to have smuggled weapons across the globe from Eastern Europe to Africa.
He also was accused of helping corrupt former Liberian president Charles Taylor violate the United Nations arms embargoes in both his countries. He was a prominent figure in the infamous first and second Liberian civil wars, which killed 250,000 people and devastated much of the country.
After his capture and extradition to the United States, Bout spent over 11 years in prison and remains a controversial figure. He has steadfastly maintained his innocence, and has had high-level support from Russian officials since his first arrest.
Raisa Bout
Raisa Bout is a famous social media personality, who has a large number of followers on Instagram. She is also a popular content creator and YouTuber. She is known for her positive attitude and gratitude towards life.
She is a model and social media star who is able to bring a smile to her fans’ faces through her Instagram posts. She focuses on bringing awareness to the importance of smiling, and she encourages her followers to smile at others when they see them.
Her accomplishments include donating her kidney to Selena Gomez and starting her own charity. She has also fought against the discrimination that women face in Russia.
As a first lady, she was an active player in her husband’s efforts to end the cold war. She attended international meetings and traveled to schools, hospitals and hot springs.
