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Vovan and Lexus

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Vovan and Lexus are Russian comedians Vladimir Kuznetsov or Krasnov (nickname: Vovan222) and Aleksei Stolyarov; they are noted for their prank telephone calls to prominent individuals.

The duo often prank those who are critical of the Russian government or Russian foreign policy, particularly non-Russians; they have been called state actors for the Russian government or the Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia's principal security agency, a claim the comedians deny.

Background

Vovan

Vladimir Churov in 2019
Vovan's prank on Russian official Vladimir Churov gained him popularity in Russia.

Vovan came to public attention in late 2011, when after that year's controversial parliamentary elections in Russia, he telephoned the chairman of Russia's Central Election Commission Vladimir Churov, introducing himself as Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich and almost convinced Churov the President Dmitry Medvedev intended to fire him. In June 2012, he phoned Vitaly Mutko, the Russian Minister of Sports, and persuaded him to apologise for the drunken behaviour of athletes.[1]

Comedy duo formation

In 2014, Vovan and Lexus began to work together.[2] They telephoned President of Moldova Nicolae Timofti, posing as Georgian politician Mikheil Saakashvili, and spoke with General Kevin McNeely in the United States, to whom Vovan introduced himself as the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov. McNeely disclosed to the pranksters information about the supply of US military aid to Ukraine during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War.[3]

Elton John prank

Elton John at the Cannes Film Festival, 2019.
The English singer Elton John was subject to one of their pranks. As a result, the Russian president Vladimir Putin apologised to John.

In September 2015, Vovan and Lexus played a telephone prank on English musician Elton John; Vovan impersonated Russian president Vladimir Putin and Lexus pretended to be his translator. They claimed to be discussing the rights of gay people in Russia.[1][a] Erroneously believing the call to be genuine, John, on Instagram, made a post congratulating Putin for having contacted John to discuss the issue.[1] Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov denied the conversation took place,[5] and Putin telephoned Elton John apologising for the prank and describing the pranksters as "harmless".[6][7][8][9]

Other prominent individuals

By 2015, Vovan and Lexus had pranked many prominent people, including former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev,[1] American statesman John McCain, Soviet dissident Valeriya Novodvorskaya, Russian politician Vladimir Medinsky, Ukrainian politician Vitali Klitschko, viral Russian politician Natalia Poklonskaya, Russian ballerina Anastasia Volochkova, Russian footballer Aleksei Panin, and Russian politician Vitaly Milonov.[10]

In February 2016, Vovan and Lexus pranked President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; they introduced themselves as Ukrainian politicians Petro Poroshenko and Arseniy Yatsenyuk.[11] Since April 2016, Vovan was co-host of weekly television prank show Zvonok ("[the] Call") on the Russian channel NTV. He co-presented the show with Lexus and Mikhail Gendelev.[12] In July 2019, Vovan and Lexus called President of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev and they introduced themselves as Poroshenko.[13]

In early 2018, they pranked US Representative Adam Schiff. Posing as the head of the Ukrainian parliament Andriy Parubiy, they said he had compromising nude photographs of US President Donald Trump after a claim Trump visited Moscow in November 2013 and was provided an escort with Russian singer and model Olga Buzova at the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. Vovan and Lexus also said Buzova met with Trump in New York sometime later, where a supposed affair took place. Afterwards, Schiff was convinced Russian President Vladimir Putin was made aware of the photographs by the duo, who said Ksenia Sobchak provided Buzova with an escort to Trump and that Sobchak was Putin's god-daughter, that Vovan and Lexus had secretly visited Ukraine, and that the Ukrainian government had access to the materials. The duo said Putin had a mediator, Russian singer Arkady Ukupnik, who met ex-advisor of President Trump Michael Flynn on Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, and used a secret password, "Weather is good on Deribasovskaya" – the name of a Russian-American film – and that Ukupnik told Flynn the comprising photographs would not be released if Trump would cancel all sanctions against Russia.[14]

In 2019, during the Venezuelan presidential crisis, they pranked Speaker of the National Assembly of Venezuela Juan Guaidó, and self-proclaimed interim president of the country, introducing themselves as Ueli Maurer, President of the Swiss Confederation, whom they told Nicolás Maduro had accounts in a fictitious Swiss bank and asked him to provide Swiss authorities with a legal request to freeze Maduro's assets.[15] Vovan and Lexus also called US Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams, who dismissed the possibility of military action by the US in the country during the call.[16]

The pair impersonated environmental activist Greta Thunberg numerous times.

In 2020, Vovan and Lexus made two telephone calls to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and introduced themselves as Greta Thunberg and her father.[17] They also impersonated the Thunbergs in calls to American politician Maxine Waters, an American politician[18] and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. Impersonating Thunberg and her father, Vovan and Lexus also mentioned the shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 and urged Canada to leave NATO.[19][20][21]

Posing as Thunberg during the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries in the US, Vovan and Lexus pranked Democratic presidential candidate US Senator Bernie Sanders.[22] The duo also pranked singer Billie Eilish and actor Joaquin Phoenix.[23] In April 2021, Vovan and Lexus approached politicians in a number of European countries by impersonating Leonid Volkov, a Russian opposition politician and chief of staff of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's campaign. It was reported they used deepfake technology to impersonate Volkov.[24][25][26] Speaking to The Verge, the two denied using deepfakes and said they used a look-alike.[27]

In October 2020, Vovan and Lexus impersonated Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya the Belarusian opposition leader in a virtual video conference with Danish lawmakers.[28] In July 2021, President of the US National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Carl Gershman was the subject of a hoax by Vovan and Lexus, who convinced Gershman and other NED officials they were speaking to Tsikhanouskaya and an aide. Gersham said the NED "support[ed] many, many groups and we have a very, very active program throughout the country", and NED had contact with the chief aide to Alexei Navalny]]. The NED official in charge of its work in Belarus said the NED had helped inspire that year's protests against Lukashenko.[29] In June 2022, they pranked J.K. Rowling, making her believe she was on a Zoom call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and discussing the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.[30]

Controversies

Independent Latvian news website Meduza said of Vovan and Lexus; "for some reason, their spoofs always seem to serve the interests of Russia's authorities".[3] Vovan and Lexus told the website they would never play pranks on Putin allies such as head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov or Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill.[3]

The British defence secretary Ben Wallace was pranked by the duo in 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, leading to Vovan and Lexus's channel being removed from YouTube.

As many of the people they prank are those critical of the Russian government or Russian foreign policy, particularly non-Russians, critics say that Kuznetsov and Stolyarov work for the Russian authorities or Russia's security service (the FSB), or are otherwise involved in the Kremlin's foreign political interference programmes.[31][32] The British government has repeated this claim.[33][34] The duo deny being state actors, and Vovan has stated that he is free as to whom he pranks and does not work for hire, but that friends sometimes suggest who they prank next.[32]

In Russia, some have called Vovan's pranks "telephone hooliganism".[35] After participating with them in a program on state television channel Zvezda, Russian journalist and television presenter Mikhail Kozhukhov called the duo "a disgrace to the profession to which I belong".[36]

YouTube ban and migration to Rutube

In 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, clipped footage of British defence secretary Ben Wallace in a prank call by Vovan and Lexus was released online. Vovan and Lexus impersonated Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal, saying Ukraine wished to promote its own nuclear deterrent to protect itself from Russia, a claim previously made by the Russian government. Vovan and Lexus also called British home secretary Priti Patel.[33][34][37] After this prank, on 26 March 2022, YouTube banned Vovan and Lexus, and on 22 March that year, the British Ministry of Defence had called for YouTube to remove all videos of calls by Vovan and Lexus.[38][39] Following the ban, the two prankers opened up[40] the channel on Rutube and continued publishing new content.

Notes

  1. ^ Gay rights in Russia had been under increased scrutiny from John and many in the West since an anti-gay-propaganda law had been passed by the State Duma in 2013. In defending the law in the lead-up to the Sochi Olympics in 2014, Putin cited the Russian public's support of Elton John – who is gay – and his music to dispute the notion Russia is homophobic.[4] John responded by offering to introduce Putin to Russians he said were victimised and abused under the legislation.[4] John had previously expressed an interest in talking to Putin on the issue but thought the possibility of such was unlikely.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Luhn, Alec (16 September 2015). "Russian pranksters say they fooled Elton John with Putin call". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  2. ^ Litvinova, Daria (15 March 2016). "Happy to Be a Weapon: Russian Prank-Callers Target Kremlin Opponents". The Moscow Times. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "'If you're sliding into totalitarianism, you might as well do it glamorously': Russia's two most famous pranksters explain themselves". Meduza. 31 March 2016. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b Brown, Mark; Michaels, Sean (23 January 2014). "Elton John to Putin: I will show you gay people victimised under Russian law". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016.
  5. ^ a b Plucinska, Joanna (17 September 2015). "Russian Comedians Say They Prank-Called Elton John". Time. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Путин позвонил Элтону Джону" [Putin called Elton John]. Gazeta.ru (in Russian). 24 September 2015. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Элтон Джон прокомментировал розыгрыш пранкеров со "звонком Путина"" [Elton John comments on prankster's prank call on Putin]. RBC.ru (in Russian). 17 September 2015. Archived from the original on 20 October 2015. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 20 September 2015 suggested (help)
  8. ^ Kishkovsky, Sophia (24 September 2015). "Vladimir Putin Calls Elton John, This Time for Real". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  9. ^ Hanna, Jason (25 September 2015). "Putin calls Elton John after prank". CNN. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  10. ^ Ivanov, Alexsei (16 September 2015). "Пранкер Вован на Baltkom: Элтон Джон не усомнился в том, что я - Путин (АУДИО)" [Prankster Vovan on Baltkom: Elton John didn't doubt that I was Putin (AUDIO)]. Mixnews (in Russian). Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2022. Я не пародист, как и мой коллега. Все было рассчитано на эффект неожиданности [I am not an impersonator and neither is my colleague. Everything was designed for the effect of surprise]
  11. ^ "#АллоЭрдоган: турецкий президент поговорил по телефону с фальшивым Порошенко" [#AlloErdogan: Turkish president spoke to fake Poroshenko on phone]. NTV. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  12. ^ "Пранк-шоу "Звонок"" [Prank show '[the] Call']. NTV (in Russian). Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Russian comedy duo pranks North Macedonia PM". France 24. 9 July 2019. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  14. ^ Ioffe, Julia (11 December 2017). "What Putin Really Wants". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  15. ^ Aqeel, Inaya (14 March 2019). "Guaido Asked Pranksters Imitating Swiss President To Block Maduro's Assets In Made-Up Bank".
  16. ^ "Trump's envoy for Venezuela dismissed US military action there during a Russian prank call". Business Insider. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Prince Harry "duped by Greta Thunberg call" Russian pranksters say". BBC News. 11 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  18. ^ Helmore, Edward (5 January 2020). "Democrat fooled by Russian prankster posing as Greta Thunberg in phone call". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  19. ^ "'Hello Greta!': Justin Trudeau "fields call from pranksters"". BBC News. 24 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  20. ^ Sullivan, Helen (25 November 2020). "'Leave Nato': Justin Trudeau pranked by Russian duo posing as Greta Thunberg". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Russian Phone Pranksters Dupe Trudeau as "Greta Thunberg"". The Moscow Times. 25 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  22. ^ Titova, Tanya; Litvinova, Daria (1 May 2021). "Bernie Sanders pranked by Russians posing as Greta Thunberg". Associated Press News. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  23. ^ Ling, Justin (4 May 2021). "Russian Pranksters Duped Canadian Politicians Looking to Hear From Putin Critic". Vice News. Montreal, CA. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022. 'It is unlikely that the stories with Greta Thunberg were of interest to the Kremlin, as well as pranks with Billie Eilish and Joaquin Phoenix :),' he said.
  24. ^ Roth, Andrew (22 April 2021). "European MPs targeted by deepfake video calls imitating Russian opposition". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  25. ^ Ivanov, Maxim; Rothrock, Kevin (22 April 2021). "Hello, this is Leonid Volkov* Using deepfake video and posing as Navalny's right-hand man, Russian pranksters fool Latvian politicians and journalists into invitation and TV interview". Meduza. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  26. ^ "'Deepfake' Navalny Aide Targets European Lawmakers". The Moscow Times. 23 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  27. ^ Vincent, James (30 April 2021). "'Deepfake' that supposedly fooled European politicians was just a look-alike, say pranksters". The Verge. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  28. ^ "When virtual turns fake: Danish politicians "meet" Belarusian opposition figure". Reuters. 8 October 2020. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  29. ^ Bennetts, Marc (19 May 2021). "We fund Russian democracy protesters, boasts US group". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  30. ^ "JK Rowling Tricked into Chat with "Zelenskyy" by Russian Pranksters, Asked about Dumbledore". News18. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  31. ^ Walker, Shaun (13 March 2016). "Kremlin calling? Meet the Russian pranksters who say "Elton owes us"". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  32. ^ a b "Пранкер Вован заявил, что не работает на заказ" [Prankster Vovan says he does not work for hire]. Gazeta.ru (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 15 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  33. ^ a b "Ministers warned after "prank" video call with Ben Wallace emerges - as UK blames Russia for hoaxes". Sky News. 22 March 2022. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  34. ^ a b Mason, Rowena (21 March 2022). "Video released showing Russian hoax call with UK defence secretary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  35. ^ Elena, Milchanovska (8 October 2014). "Пранкер Вован назвал имя своей новой жертвы и рассказал о ее неожиданной реакции" [Prankster Vovan gives the name of his new victim and speaks about her unexpected reaction]. Sobesednik. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  36. ^ Taroschina, Slava (23 August 2017). "Как их ломают через колено. Если сургутской резни не было в телевизоре, ее не было нигде" [How they are being broken over their knees. If the Surgut massacre wasn't on TV, it wasn't anywhere]. Novaya Gazeta (in Russian). Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  37. ^ "Video clip of hoax call with UK minister Ben Wallace published". BBC News. 22 March 2022. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  38. ^ "YouTube removes account publishing hoaxes of ministers over Russia links". Malvern Gazette. PA News Agency. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  39. ^ MoD [@DefenceHQ] (23 March 2022). "We are calling on YouTube to help us support Ukraine by taking down videos doctored by the Russian state and disseminated to try and sap the morale of a people fighting for their freedom 🇺🇦 👇" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  40. ^ "Official Vovan and Lexus channels on Rutube" (in Russian). Rutube. 17 August 2021.
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