Three Russian Students Expelled and Sentenced to Corrective Labour for Twerking Outside Moscow Cathedral

Three female students were expelled from Moscow Art University after a video of them dancing in short skirts in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour went viralTh

Three female university students in Russia have been expelled and sentenced to 11 months of corrective labour after posting a TikTok video of themselves twerking in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.

The three young women posted a video of the moment on TikTok

The young women, all believed to be 18 years old, were convicted of “petty hooliganism” and accused of violating public order and insulting the religious feelings of citizens. Authorities said the video showed the students performing a “vulgar dance” in provocative clothing in front of the prominent Orthodox cathedral, which is frequently attended by President Vladimir Putin.

The incident sparked outrage among Orthodox campaigners and conservative groups, including the traditionalist organisation Sorok Sorokov, which condemned the students as “brainless girls who decided to gain popularity” and claimed that such behaviour posed a moral threat to society.

The trio, who are believed to be 18, were convicted of 'petty hooliganism'

Following the public outcry, the Stroganov Russian State University of Art and Industry expelled the three students, identified as A. Dmitrieva from Moscow, A. Kalinkina from Astrakhan, and I. Pchelintseva from Elektrostal. University officials warned the students to “watch your behaviour and do not allow your life to be ruined by stupidity.”

The punishment comes amid a broader clampdown on what authorities describe as immoral or disrespectful behaviour in public places. President Putin has endorsed stricter enforcement of “traditional values,” and officials have recently pursued cases against other young Russians for videos deemed disrespectful to national monuments or symbols.

They were expelled from their Russian university for 'violating public order'