The Presnensky Court of Moscow sent the previously detained blogger and author of the “Marathon of Wishes” Elena Blinovskaya under house arrest until June 26 in the case of tax evasion for 918 million rubles and money laundering on an especially large scale. Blinovskaya pleaded guilty. The text broadcast of the meeting was conducted by Mediazona, and journalists also published photos from the meeting.
Judge Kiselkova read separately that Blinovskaya was a certified public accountant.
Blinovskaya was represented by lawyer Natalya Salnikova. She asked the court to attach documents on Blinovskaya's marital status, she has four young children born in 2009, 2011 (twins) and 2020. Among the documents there is also a “payment for the payment of a part of the tax”, the repaid amount is not disclosed.
The investigation petitioned to send Blinovskaya under house arrest with a ban on leaving her house in a village near Moscow without the permission of the investigator, to communicate with anyone and use the Internet. According to the investigator, while at large, Blinovskaya can threaten witnesses who “are in a subordinate position from her,” or hide, as she tried earlier.
Blinovskaya was brought into the meeting room in handcuffs, her face was not visible, as she pulled on her hood. Passing by journalists, she said nothing. Journalists with cameras and telephones were present at the meeting room, neither relatives nor Blinovskaya's support group were seen nearby.
On April 27, Blinovskaya was detained under articles on tax evasion on an especially large scale, as well as the legalization (laundering) of money on an especially large scale. She was detained while trying to leave the country in a rented car; tickets with a departure from Moscow were also bought in the name of Blinovskaya in order to confuse the investigation. According to the Investigative Committee, the blogger used the scheme of "splitting" the business and underestimated the income received. As a result, she did not pay value added tax and personal income tax for a total amount of more than 918 million rubles for the period 2019-2021, and laundered part of the funds.
Blinovskaya is the creator of the popular "personal growth" marathon "Marathon of Desires". The cost of the "marathon" varies from 3 thousand to 10 thousand rubles, there are options with an individual mentor and VIP packages for 200 and 300 thousand rubles. Presumably, the turnover could be 2 billion rubles a year. The program website states that Blinovskaya is “an international level coach, a happy wife and mother, a successful business woman, Mrs. Russia 2016, a student of world personal growth experts and life coaches Anthony Robbins, John Kehoe, John Gray, Liz Burbo, Eckhart Tolle. Blinovskaya's marathon is a kind of four-week “online training” with “task checks”. Users receive a recording of the same voice messages from Blinovskaya in messengers, after completing the “tasks”, their desires must come true.
Blinovskaya "warmed up" her marathon with reviews of allegedly successful graduates. Also, a script was written and the film of the same name “Marathon of Desires” was shot to advertise the marathon in 2020, but it was not publicly promoted as an advertisement for courses. At the same time, Blinovskaya acted as one of the producers. The State Cinema Fund irrevocably allocated 25 million rubles for this film. In addition, Blinovskaya was the host of the show "House of Fulfillment of Desires" on TV-3.
Blinovskaya is the third blogger whose income the Federal Tax Service is interested in. In March, blogger Alexandra Mitroshina was also charged with tax evasion for 120 million rubles. According to investigators, Mitroshina, as an individual entrepreneur, received income from educational courses in excess of the limit allowed for the application of the simplified taxation system. To hide income, she received part of them for other IPs affiliated and controlled by her. Mitroshina herself previously claimed that she "regularly pays all taxes." Later, against the background of Blinovskaya's detention, news also appeared that Mitroshina paid all 120 million rubles and avoided trial. According to the Telegram channel Shot, she still has 92 million left to pay (7 million of the balance of the debt + 85 million in tax penalties).
On March 16, a criminal case on money laundering was opened against blogger Valeria Chekalina (Lerchek) and her husband.