Russian Blogger Under Investigation for Endangering Child in Viral Video

Russian authorities have initiated an urgent investigation into a blogger following the release of a dangerous video in which she is seen vacuum-sealing her 10-year-old son inside a plastic storage bag, an incident that has triggered significant backlash on social media.

The blogger, Anna Sabarina, 36, shared a video showing her son, Stas, lying inside a vacuum bag on the floor of their home. After the child takes a deep breath and counts "one, two, three," Sabarina quickly zips the bag shut, exclaiming "Let’s go!" before attaching a vacuum hose to extract the air.

Within seconds, the child lets out a muffled scream and calls for "Mom," prompting Sabarina to open the bag. The boy emerges smiling and giving a thumbs-up while breathing fresh air.

Sabarina stated that her intention in posting the video was to have fun and increase views, as the family was feeling bored due to her son's illness and absence from school, emphasizing her desire for "likes."

However, the clip drew outrage and criticism from viewers and activists who accused her of endangering her child’s life, warning that the vacuum bag "could have suffocated the child in seconds."

Sabarina is currently under investigation by police in the Saratov region and child protection authorities. This inquiry was triggered after the video was identified during routine monitoring of online content.

A police spokesperson for the region told the Russian news agency "Novosti": "A video has been detected showing possible illegal acts by a woman towards her minor child, exposing him to danger."

Authorities have pledged to conduct "a legal assessment of the mother’s behavior, along with a review by child protection agencies."

In response to the investigation news shared on the police's regional "Telegram" channel, Sabarina, who has thousands of followers and millions of views, deleted the video just minutes after the announcement.

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