Blogger Valeria Chekalina, known by her alias Lerchek, has appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request for a pardon. Her lawyer, Konstantin Tretyakov, announced this on November 12 to the Russian state news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti. According to the defense attorney, the petition was submitted via the head of state's online portal and transferred to the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN). Tretyakov clarified that while convicts usually send such documents through the administration of a penal colony or detention center, Chekalina received a suspended sentence, so the petition was filed through a different procedure. The lawyer did not specify a timeline for the consideration of the petition.
Health condition and treatment abroad
A key argument in the blogger's appeal, according to media reports, is her health. Chekalina has been diagnosed with an oncological condition: in late October, according to her own statements, results from positron emission tomography (PET) revealed that metastases had begun to grow again, including in her lungs. Doctors recommended exploring the possibility of treatment in China using CAR-T therapy. In October, Chekalina asked the court to allow her to travel to the PRC for treatment, and on November 10, according to her lawyers, a corresponding request was sent to the FSIN. The blogger's partner, Luis Scwicciarini, had previously noted that her condition had deteriorated.
The progress of criminal cases against the Chekalins
Valeria Chekalina was featured on the Forbes list of Russian bloggers with the highest incomes. In 2023, she and Artem Chekalin, whom she was married to at the time, were accused of tax evasion and money laundering; by March 2024, both criminal cases were closed. In October 2024, the Chekalins became involved in a third criminal case concerning the illegal transfer of funds outside of Russia. In February 2026, the blogger gave birth to her fourth child, and in March, her partner reported that she had been diagnosed with cancer; shortly after, the house arrest against Chekalina was lifted.
Verdict and appeal
In April 2026, Chekalin received a real prison term — seven years in a general regime penal colony. In July 2026, Chekalina was sentenced to five years of suspended imprisonment and a fine on charges of illegal transfer of funds abroad. On November 5, the Moscow City Court upheld the verdict, and the defense, according to Tretyakov, intends to appeal it. The question of granting Chekalina permission to travel to China for treatment, the lawyer clarified, will be considered as part of a separate judicial process. Thus, the plea for a pardon is being filed against the backdrop of an active suspended sentence and ongoing procedures related to her treatment.
