Cherta Media’s look at the Larisa Dolina scandal Why Russia’s civil courts side with scam victims while criminal courts refuse leniency for the duped

Howdy, folks. Today, I review Cherta Media’s look at the Larisa Dolina scandal and what it reveals about victims’ rights in Russia’s phone-scam epidemic. Keep reading for news of German–Belgian talks on what to do with Europe’s frozen Russian assets, plus the U.K. formally blames Putin and the GRU for the Novichok death of Dawn Sturgess. Yours, Kevin.

How a pop star’s real-estate scam case is unsettling Russia’s housing market and raising questions about scam victims’ rights

The case of singer Larisa Dolina, who was duped by phone scammers into selling her apartment and transferring the proceeds to “secure accounts,” sparked a public firestorm when a court voided the sale and returned the property to her, leaving the good-faith buyer, Polina Lurie, without a home or her money. A second court later upheld the ruling, causing further outrage and prompting panic across Russia’s secondary housing market. Such cases, it turns out, are not rare. Last month, federal lawmakers disclosed that courts have overturned at least 3,000 similar transactions, returning apartments to defrauded pensioners but leaving the buyers with nothing. A new report by Cherta Media examines the legal rationale for this leniency toward scam victims, which is all but absent in similar criminal cases.

Attorneys interviewed for the story say Dolina’s victory hinges on civil-law standards that treat “significant mistakes” and “third-party deception” as legitimate grounds to void a transaction. In civil disputes, two private parties meet on relatively equal footing, and courts can accept a plausible account of confusion or coercion to rescind a deal.

Attorney Valeria Vetoshkina told Cherta Media that the civil-law logic used in Dolina’s case simply doesn’t apply to criminal cases where people are tricked or pressured into attacking buildings (such as military recruitment offices). In these proceedings, she explained, courts require proof that a defendant had no intent to cause harm — a far higher bar than showing a “significant mistake” in a property dispute. Because throwing a Molotov cocktail or igniting a structure is inherently dangerous, judges usually conclude that the perpetrator understood the risk, even if scammers manipulated or threatened them.

Attorney Maxim Sikach noted that courts still hand down prison terms even when elderly women or minors are duped into attacking buildings (sometimes by scammers, sometimes through sting operations staged by the authorities themselves), treating deception only as a mitigating circumstance. Dolina’s victory in civil court, he said, will not change that. Her ruling cannot reopen existing criminal convictions and is unlikely to shape future cases. 

The Archive Collection: Nothing can stop Meduza from releasing anniversary merch — even if we have to make it ourselves. Check out our latest drop now!

We have a new tradition here at Meduza: every year on our birthday, we update the merch in our online store, Magaz. In 2025, we turned 11 — and despite the considerable challenges we’ve faced this year, we’ve found a pretty original way to bring you a new collection. Here’s a look at the latest clothing and accessories you can buy to rep Meduza and support our work.

News you don’t want to miss today

🔍 How a Ukrainian orphan evacuation unraveled in Turkey ⚠️

A Ukrainian businessman’s rushed effort to rescue hundreds of orphans from Russian bombardment relocated them to Turkish hotels, where inspectors confirm that children were mistreated, poorly supervised, and forced into fundraising performances with little government oversight.

• Broken safeguards: Inspectors found overcrowded, moldy rooms, confiscated belongings, irregular meals, and unreported injuries and escapes — including a girl who vanished for days and two teenagers who became pregnant after contact with hotel workers.
• Manufactured gratitude: The “Childhood Without War” project relied on videos and performances by the children to keep donations flowing. Those who refused to sing or be filmed risked losing phones, food, and privileges.
• Absent accountability: With the Ukrainian state sidelined and the foundation blocking access by social workers and doctors, oversight collapsed. The program quietly ended, children were sent back to Ukraine, and no public legal consequences followed. Investigations were closed without charges. | OCCRP

🇮🇹 Italy slams brakes on NATO weapons plan for Ukraine 🛑

Italy says it’s not currently prepared to join the NATO effort to buy U.S. arms for Ukraine, arguing it makes little sense to expand deliveries while ceasefire talks are underway.

• Europe’s outlier: Rome had previously indicated support for the weapons program, but is now the first NATO government to publicly question new arms shipments during negotiations, even as two-thirds of NATO’s allies participate.
• Strategic rift: Ukraine says it needs another €1 billion in U.S. weapons to get through this winter, while Europe’s defense industry urges continued production. Italy’s position puts it at odds with both Kyiv and NATO’s push to maintain pressure on Russia. | Bloomberg

🇪🇺 E.U. blacklisting over ‘money laundering and terrorist financing’ pushes Russia further into pariah status | The impending designation is expected to sever Russia from global investment and financial networks, forcing even its remaining partners to limit cooperation to avoid regulatory blowback, anti-corruption expert Ilya Shumanov told Meduza.

🇧🇪 Belgian-Russian dual citizen charged with treason after trying to visit father in St. Petersburg following a heart attack | Russian authorities accuse Mikhail Loshchinin of aiding Ukraine after discovering a loan to his ex, detaining and allegedly torturing him during a trip to see his ailing father.

🚫 Russia blocks Snapchat, along with Roblox and FaceTime | Roskomnadzor claims Snapchat facilitates terrorism and fraud, and has recently taken similar action against other Western digital platforms, including Roblox and Apple’s FaceTime.

🐶 Russian initiative turns stray dogs into WiFi hotspots to keep people online during blackouts | Supporters argue the project offers free connectivity and boosts adoption prospects for strays, while critics warn it exploits the animals, exposes them to theft and stress, and distracts from real solutions like sheltering and care/p>

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