VKontakte Found Running Contract-Service Ads With Alexei Navalny in the Starring Role

VKontakte has been found to be running ads for contract military service with Alexei Navalny in the leading role

Oleg Kashin was the first to draw attention to the ad post, which used an AI-generated image of the politician.

The post was published as far back as April 4 in the public page “Contract for the Special Military Operation. Kaliningrad,” which has two subscribers. At the same time, about 40 more publications advertising contract service appeared alongside it. A certain organization called “Motherland of Heroes” was offering people the chance to sign a contract (what is wrong with it was explained in detail on the website).

Journalists from “Vot Tak!” called the phone number that “Motherland of Heroes” listed as its contact. They asked why Navalny’s image had been used in the ad and received this answer: “A random person. Looks like him, probably.”

The outlet “Agentstvo” also contacted “Motherland of Heroes” via WhatsApp. A company representative said that “it is a generated picture.” “We are now clarifying the information. Of course this should not have happened, but apparently something went off plan with the marketer,” the journalists’ source said.

By the time the news item was published, the post with Alexei Navalny’s image had already been deleted, but the other publications remained.

Image: screenshot of a post from “Contract for the Special Military Operation. Kaliningrad”

@meduzalive