On August 25, Elena Blinovskaya’s lawyer, Natalia Salnikova, announced that the blogger will mark her 45th birthday in prison without any special celebrations or additional indulgences.
“It will be a normal day,” Salnikova stated to reporters. “There are no conditions for celebration there.”
Salnikova also denied reports of possible birthday indulgences, explaining that the facility does not provide separate cells— inmates share living and working spaces. While the prison includes a sewing workshop, the lawyer declined to specify Blinovskaya’s activities due to ethical guidelines and her refusal to discuss client details.
Blinovskaya’s case was upheld by Russia’s Second Court of Cassation on July 29 in a verdict for tax evasion and money laundering. The blogger had previously requested that her sentence be delayed until her child reaches age 14 and that the punishment be reduced. Salnikova has announced plans to appeal the ruling.
