I thought then that this was it. That they would definitely label me a terrorist.” The story of Sofia Chepik, an activist in the Scarlet Swan movement

“I thought then that this was it. That they would definitely label me a terrorist.” The story of Sofia Chepik, an activist in the Scarlet Swan movement

20-year-old Sofia Chepik went from working as an international model to appearing in an FSB video about preventing a terrorist attack against Roskomnadzor employees.

“I wanted to sit quietly in some consulate or embassy office and work with paperwork, that’s how I imagined my future profession after school,” the young woman says about her plans after graduating.

Her life “changed radically” in March 2026. Sofia saw one of the TikToks calling on people to come out to a rally for a free internet and got in touch with the Scarlet Swan movement. She first became a volunteer, then an organizer, and then ran into pressure because of her activism.

After harassment from supporters of Vladislav Pozdnyakov, she was hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital. By the time she was discharged, the movement had effectively already split, two of its former leaders had left Russia, and five organizers had been arrested on administrative charges.

On April 18, officers came to search Chepik’s home. Soon afterward, she appeared in an FSB video; the young woman said she was forced to recite a memorized text. After interrogations, Sofia was jailed for 15 days for “swearing in a public place.” Once released, she left Russia.

“I should have joined up with some competent people I could actually learn something new from and look for like-minded people among them. It’s because of my age and inexperience that I ended up in this situation; I don’t fully know how the whole political sphere in this country is structured,” the young woman explains.

Vyorstka is telling Sofia Chepik’s full story for the first time: about her childhood and the tragic death of someone close to her, mental disorders and 13 months in a rehabilitation center, her interest in politics and dangerous work abroad. Read Vyorstka’s piece at the link to learn how Sofia endured interrogations and arrest, and how those close to her feel about her departure (with VPN):

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“Another hooligan”: the story of former Scarlet Swan activist Sofia Chepik

From working as an international model to an FSB video, arrest, and emigration