Cancer patient Lerchek is suing stylist Elvira Yankovskaya for 2.4 million rubles after a conflict with her caused her problems with the tax authorities.
Lerchek, who is currently battling stage-four cancer, has filed a lawsuit against her former stylist, Elvira Yankovskaya, accusing her of selling counterfeit luxury goods. The blogger is seeking 2.4 million rubles in a criminal fraud case in which Yankovskaya is a defendant.
According to Lerchek (real name: Valeria Chekalina), the stylist not only sold counterfeit goods as genuine but also used her name for personal gain. "She sold me counterfeit items as genuine and also used my name to obtain various privileges. Yankovskaya was my permanent stylist: she selected my looks, searched for and bought clothes, and we went shopping," Channel Five quotes Chekalina as saying.
The defense requested that the lawsuit be temporarily dismissed, citing discrepancies in the amounts claimed. The lawyer noted that some items were lost during the investigation, and their authenticity has not been established, so the defendant cannot be held responsible for them.
As a reminder, the conflict between the parties has been ongoing for several years. Back in 2022, Chekalina alleged that celebrity stylist Yankovskaya had been selling her and other women counterfeit luxury accessories for a year and a half. The deception was uncovered after an inspection at TsUM: it was discovered that copies, including Dior, Chanel, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton bags, were being purchased under the guise of originals. Chekalina then filed a lawsuit demanding damages, and Yankovskaya filed a counterclaim for defamation. Ultimately, a criminal case was opened against the stylist. Initially, she was not given a preventive measure due to her cooperation with the investigation, but the situation later changed: after skipping a court hearing and attending French Fashion Week, she received a more severe measure – six months of arrest. Yankovskaya is currently in pretrial detention.
Interestingly, during the investigation, law enforcement turned their attention to Chekalina herself and her income, discovering a multi-million dollar tax debt and accusing her of money laundering. Rumor has it that Yankovskaya may have been the one who "turned her in" to her former client.
The investigation against the 33-year-old blogger was suspended due to her health. In early March, shortly after the birth of her fourth child with her boyfriend, Luis Squicciarini, she was diagnosed with stage IV stomach cancer with metastases to the brain, lungs, and spine. Chekalina has partially lost her sight and is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Her ex-husband, Artyom Chekalin, also a defendant in the case, was sentenced to seven years in prison and a fine of 194 million rubles. According to investigators, the ex-spouses, who divorced in 2024 and are raising three children, made money selling online courses and fitness marathons and transferred the money to the UAE using forged documents.
Lerchek recently announced the launch of her own cosmetics brand, sparking skepticism among some who still don't believe her diagnosis is real. Many believe the blogger is faking her illness to avoid punishment.
Photo: ler_chek, im__lu_, elvirayankovskaya_/Instagram**