Putin pardoned Lerchek: criminal record cleared, blogger released from punishment — what is known about the president's decision
Vladimir Putin signed a decree pardoning the well-known Russian blogger Valeria Chekalina, better known as Lerchek. The president released her from the sentence imposed by the Gagarinsky District Court of Moscow on July 31, 2026, and also expunged her criminal record. The document is dated November 14, 2026.
The news came as an unexpected twist in a high-profile criminal case that had been in the public spotlight for several months.
Information about the pardon appeared on the morning of November 14. It was reported by RIA Novosti, whose article was published on the Mail.ru portal.
Thus, a story that began with the criminal prosecution of a popular blogger has reached a fundamentally new outcome.
Putin signed a decree pardoning Valeria Chekalina
According to the published information, Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to pardon Valeria Valeryevna Chekalina.
The decree states that the blogger is released from the punishment imposed by the Gagarinsky District Court of Moscow on July 31, 2026.
It is separately emphasized that Chekalina's criminal record is expunged.
The document enters into force on the day of signing — November 14, 2026.
This means that the pardon decision has already been made and is not merely the consideration of a petition or a preliminary initiative.
How the Lerchek case unfolded: full timeline
To understand the significance of the presidential decision, it is necessary to recall the main events of the criminal case.
2021–2022
According to the investigation, Valeria Chekalina, together with her former husband Artyom Chekalin, took part in transferring funds abroad using documents containing false information.
The total amount of the transfers cited in the case exceeded 250 million rubles.
February 2026
It became known that Valeria Chekalina had been diagnosed with cancer. The blogger's health condition became a separate topic of public discussion.
July 31, 2026
The Gagarinsky District Court of Moscow sentenced Lerchek to five years of suspended imprisonment and a fine of more than 763 million rubles.
November 5, 2026
The Moscow City Court left the verdict unchanged.
November 12, 2026
Lawyer Konstantin Tretyakov said that Valeria Chekalina had sent a petition for pardon to Vladimir Putin.
November 14, 2026
Vladimir Putin signed a decree pardoning the blogger, releasing her from the imposed punishment and expunging her criminal record.
Thus, only two days passed between the defense's appeal and the presidential decision.
What was Lerchek convicted of?
Valeria Chekalina's criminal case was related to illegal currency transactions.
According to the investigation, the blogger, together with her former husband Artyom Chekalin and a business partner, transferred funds to foreign accounts using documents containing false information.
The investigation estimated the amount of the transactions at more than 250 million rubles.
Valeria Chekalina herself did not admit guilt.
In July, the court sentenced her to five years of suspended imprisonment and a multimillion-ruble fine. Later, the appellate instance left the decision unchanged.
Why did the story generate such public resonance?
One of the most discussed circumstances was the blogger's health condition.
In 2026, it became known that Valeria Chekalina had been diagnosed with cancer. According to reports from her representatives, the disease was progressing, and doctors recommended considering the possibility of specialized treatment abroad.
The defense sought permission to travel to China to receive medical care.
The situation sparked a broad public debate about the balance between court decisions, humanitarian circumstances and the human right to necessary treatment.
It was against the backdrop of these events that the pardon petition acquired particular significance.
What does the pardon mean for Lerchek?
Pardon is a power of the president provided for by the Russian Constitution.
In this case, the published decree provides for two fundamental consequences:
- release of Valeria Chekalina from the punishment imposed by the court;
- expunging of her criminal record.
It is important to distinguish a pardon from an acquittal. The presidential decision does not mean the annulment of the guilty verdict or a finding that the blogger is innocent.
It is specifically about release from punishment and expunging of the criminal record in accordance with the pardon decree.
What happens to Lerchek now?
The signing of the decree became the most important turning point in Valeria Chekalina's story.
Now public attention will be focused primarily on her health, further treatment and return to normal life.
For now, it is not worth making assumptions about recovery timelines or the blogger's future activities. First and foremost, what matters are the medical circumstances and the opportunity to receive the necessary care.
Outcome: the high-profile Lerchek case reached an unexpected conclusion
On November 14, 2026, Vladimir Putin signed a decree pardoning Valeria Chekalina.
The blogger has been released from the punishment imposed by the Moscow court on July 31, and her criminal record has been expunged.
This decision has put a new end point to one of the most discussed court cases in the Russian blogosphere in 2026.
From a criminal verdict to a presidential pardon — Lerchek's story has traveled a path that, just a few days earlier, had seemed far from over.
