27.04.2026 07:04
Russian blogger Viktoria Bonya’s video, in which she addressed Putin while wearing a shirt with the Turkish flag, saying, 'There is so much you don’t know. People are now shouting at the top of their lungs. Everything they had has been taken away,' has become a symbol of the growing discontent in the country.
As the war economy and successive ban decisions fuel social unrest in Russia, criticisms directed at President Vladimir Putin have drawn attention.
OPEN CRITICISMS FROM INFLUENCERS
The fact that social media influencers and even some figures close to the government have criticized Putin has revealed an unusual picture in the country. These criticisms have put pressure on the Kremlin.
VIDEO WITH TURKISH FLAG BECOMES TRENDING
One of the most striking examples was a video shared by blogger Viktoria Bonya wearing a T-shirt with a Turkish flag. Bonya's 19-minute video, with 13.6 million followers, reached 31 million views. In the video, Bonya argued that Putin has been misinformed about the poor management of floods in Dagestan, the culling of animals that angered farmers in Siberia, internet bans, and the struggles of small businesses.
"THERE IS MUCH YOU DON'T KNOW"
Emphasizing that she supports Putin, Bonya directly addressed him, saying, "There is much you don't know. People are screaming as loud as they can. Everything they had has been taken away, and it continues to be taken away. Businesses are dying." Bonya also stated that ordinary Russians and officials are afraid to tell the truth.
KREMLIN RESPONDS
Following the growing backlash, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitri Peskov stated that they were aware of the video and said, "The issues Bonya mentioned are being worked on extensively, and none of them are being ignored."
WARNING OF "BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION"
Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party and a long-time supporter of Putin, also harshly criticized the government in a speech in parliament, warning that if the problems are not resolved, the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution could happen again.