Russian Authorities Investigate Blogger for Endangering Son in Viral Video

Russian authorities have initiated an urgent investigation into a blogger following her release of a perilous video that showed her vacuum-sealing her 10-year-old son, Stas, in a plastic bag, an incident that has provoked significant outrage online.

Anna Sabarina, 36, shared a video depicting her son lying on the floor inside a vacuum bag. After the child took a deep breath and counted "one, two, three," the mother quickly sealed the bag and exclaimed, "Here we go!" before attaching a vacuum hose to extract the air.

Within seconds, the boy emitted a muffled scream and called out for his mother, prompting Sabarina to open the bag. He emerged smiling and giving a thumbs-up as he gasped for fresh air.

Sabarina stated that her intention in posting the video was for "entertainment and to increase views," explaining that the family had been feeling bored due to her son's illness and absence from school, and she admitted to seeking "likes" on social media.

However, the video drew furious and sharp reactions from viewers and activists, who accused her of endangering her child's life, warning that the plastic vacuum bag could have been fatal within seconds.

The influencer is currently under investigation by the Saratov police and relevant child protection agencies. The inquiry was launched after the video was discovered during routine monitoring of online content.

A spokesperson for the regional police told the Russian news agency "Novosti": "A video has been found showing a woman possibly committing illegal acts against her minor child and putting him in danger."

Authorities have pledged to conduct a "legal assessment of the mother's behavior as well as a review by child protection services."

In response to the news of the investigation, which was posted on the regional police's Telegram channel, Sabarina deleted the video just minutes after the announcement.

If the allegations are confirmed, the blogger could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 500,000 rubles.