Double standards under the “special military operation”: Lisa Peskova and the Mazaraki clan at a party featuring sanctioned luxury and banned rap, amid restrictions imposed on Russian citizens

Double standards under the “special military operation”: Lisa Peskova and the Mazaraki clan at a party featuring sanctioned luxury and banned rap, amid restrictions imposed on Russian citizens

18 апреля 2026 г.

Koba Dzhauriya

“Just a little more and straight to paradise. Life is good…”

These shots come from a recent lavish party organized for friends by Varvara Mazaraki, the daughter-in-law of funeral magnate Lev Mazaraki, a trusted associate of the head of the Moscow and Moscow Region FSB Directorate Alexei Dorofeev and other senior security officials. Among the guests of honor was Lisa Peskova.

“Varusha threw the party just like that,” one of the attendees wrote on social media. The venue was the Soho Rooms club, owned by the Mazaraki family. From the stage, Varvara publicly thanked the family for “all this happiness.” Massive ice-filled containers held dozens of bottles of Louis Roederer Collection champagne (banned from import into Russia under the EU’s fifth sanctions package), decorated with white roses. Tables were covered with black caviar, oysters, and other delicacies.

On stage, the band Banderos performed their hit that became the night’s unofficial anthem, “Life is Good.” They were followed by ICEGERGERT, a former Suvorov military school student who once sat next to Shoigu and now performs criminal-themed rap. He has recently faced administrative proceedings over alleged promotion of an extremist subculture, with calls for a ban from public figures and lawmakers.

Lisa Peskova was among the notable guests spotted at the event. The men in expensive suits are only seen from behind.

So what does all this show?

This party is a textbook illustration of current realities in Russia.

Ordinary citizens face frequent police raids in clubs for “excesses” during the period of the “special military operation,” along with daily restrictions and prohibitions. At the same time, closed elite gatherings feature sanctioned champagne and luxury delicacies.

Ordinary performers are banned for singing “the wrong songs,” while elites freely enjoy them in private.

Presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov regularly states on television that strict measures and restrictions are necessary in wartime conditions and are justified by the situation. Meanwhile, his daughter lives without any such limitations. The contrast could hardly be sharper.

And so, indeed — life is good. But only for a very select few.