Lercek appealed to the court for leniency towards her ex-husband. The main thing

Blogger Lerchek (Valeria Chekalin), who is undergoing treatment for stage four stomach cancer, wrote a personal letter to the judge asking him to show leniency to her ex-husband Artem Chekalin. The businessman is accused of illegally withdrawing more than 250 million rubles to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Today, on April 13, he will be sentenced in the Gagarin Court of Moscow. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

Appeal to the court

On his Instagram account (owned by Meta, a recognized extremist organization in Russia) Lercek posted a photo of a handwritten letter addressed to the judge. At the beginning of the appeal, Chekalina thanked the court for the decision to suspend consideration of her own case for the period of treatment.

"Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for understanding the situation, showing humanity, compassion, humanity and suspending my criminal case, giving me the opportunity to focus on my treatment and time with my family, with my children. You have given me the most valuable thing now — the hope of healing," she wrote.

The main part of the letter is dedicated to Artem Chekalin. The blogger described him as a man who enjoys unconditional authority among children, and asked the court to take this into account. As an argument, she cited the example of Alice's daughter together.

In conclusion, Chekalina acknowledged the fact of the mistakes, but indicated that all tax debts had been fully repaid. The final phrase addresses a possible future without her.

"If fate turns out that way and I'm gone, I need to know that Dad will be there for them," the blogger said.

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How many years did the prosecutor request for Chekalin

According to RIA Novosti, during the debate between the parties, the prosecutor requested 7.5 years in a penal colony for Artem Chekalin, as well as a fine. According to investigators, he organized the withdrawal of more than 250 million rubles to the UAE using controlled companies. The state prosecution insists that the defendant's correction is possible only in conditions of isolation from society.

Chekalin pleaded guilty only partially, disagreeing with the qualification of the actions imputed to him and insisting on the absence of criminal intent. In his last statement, he asked the court to limit himself to a suspended sentence, citing the three children in his care and their mother's serious illness.

In addition, Chekalin linked the initiation of a criminal case with the circumstances of the divorce. According to him, conflicts with his wife during the separation led to the fact that the couple missed the deadline set by the tax service for repayment of outstanding transactions.

On April 10, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation refused to open a criminal case against Lercek and her ex-husband Artem Chekalin for tax evasion due to their repayment in March 2026. The defense filed a motion to attach the investigator's decision dated April 9 on the refusal to initiate proceedings under Part 2 of Article 198 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in connection with the full repayment of the debt.

Lerchek's health status

Chekalina is undergoing treatment for stage four stomach cancer. She recently returned to the Blokhin Cancer Center for the installation of a port implant necessary for chemotherapy. According to Chekalin, despite his serious condition, the blogger tries to stay cheerful: he goes swimming and walks in the park with the children. However, chemotherapy is making itself felt: Chekalina's hair began to fall out, she had vision problems and difficulty moving.

Lercek's defense asks to suspend the case due to the blogger's illness. What is known

On her Instagram account, Lercek posted a video in which she shaved off her hair after it started falling out. During the procedure, she was supported by her fiance, choreographer Luis Squicciarini, who later shaved his beloved bald on his own. Chekalina herself attributes the late detection of the disease to the lack of necessary equipment in the state medical institutions of Istra.

"I love this life very much and I will definitely live by your prayers," the blogger addressed her audience.

Chekalina's case has been suspended until she recovers.

The reaction of relatives and the public

Artyom Chekalin said that their daughter reacts extremely emotionally to the news about her mother's condition — the girl asks disturbing questions about the outcome of the disease.

"My daughter says, 'Dad, is mom dying?' When she told me that for the first time, I almost cried myself, because it's all hard," Chekalin shared.

During Valeria's stay in the hospital, her ex-husband takes care of all the children's upbringing. On the eve of the verdict, Lercek posted a family photo in stories: Artem Chekalin with three children at the Easter table.

Meanwhile, publications appeared on social networks questioning the severity of Lercek's condition. Blogger Inna Kombarova said that her friends allegedly saw Chekalina training in the gym shortly before the news of the hospitalization. Lawyer Ekaterina Gordon, who helps Valeria, on the contrary, confirmed the existence of petitions for referral to a specialized medical center in connection with unbearable pain.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.