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{{short description|Russian political figure and television personality (born 1981)}}
{{Eastern Slavic name|Anatolyevna|Sobchak}}
{{family name hatnote|Anatolyevna|Sobchak|lang=Eastern Slavic}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Kseniya Sobchak
| name = Ksenia Sobchak
| image = File:Xenia Sobchak 2010 Moscow.jpg
| image = Kseniya Sobchak (cropped, 2018-03-19) (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Kseniya Sobchak imitating [[Yulia Tymoshenko]]'s trademark hairdo
| alt =
| birth_name = Kseniya Anatolyevna Sobchak (Russian: Ксе́ния Анато́льевна Собча́к)
| caption = Sobchak in 2018
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|11|05|mf=yes}}
| native_name = {{lang|ru|Ксения Собчак}}
| birth_place = [[St.Petersburg]], Russia
| native_name_lang = ru
| partner = [[Maxim Vitorgan]] (2013–present)
| parents = [[Anatoly Sobchak]]
| birth_name = Ksenia Anatolyevna Sobchak
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|11|05|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Leningrad]], [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Russian SFSR]], Soviet Union
| father = [[Anatoly Sobchak]]
| mother = [[Lyudmila Narusova]]
| spouse = {{Ubl
| {{marriage|{{ill|Maxim Vitorgan|ru|Виторган, Максим Эммануилович}}|1 February 2013|2018|end=div}}
| {{marriage|[[Konstantin Bogomolov]]|13 September 2019}}
}}
| children = 1
| education = {{Ubl
| [[Saint Petersburg State University]]
| [[Moscow State Institute of International Relations]]
}}
| occupation = {{Hlist | Journalist | TV anchor | public figure}}
| party = {{Ubl
| [[Civic Initiative]] (since 2017)
| [[Party of Changes]] (2018–2019)
}}
| signature = Ksenia Sobchak's signature.svg
| module = {{Listen|embed=yes|filename= Kseniya Sobchak voice.oga|title=Ksenia Sobchak's voice|type=speech|description=recorded November 2012}}
}}
}}


'''Ksenia Anatolyevna Sobchak'''{{efn|Also romanized as '''Kseniya'''}} ({{langx|ru|Ксения Анатольевна Собчак}}, {{IPA|ru|'ksʲenʲɪjə ɐnɐ'tolʲjɪvnə sɐpˈt͜ɕak|IPA}}; born 5 November 1981) is a Russian-Israeli public figure, TV anchor, journalist, socialite and actress. She is the younger daughter of the first democratically elected [[Governor of Saint Petersburg|mayor of Saint Petersburg]], [[Anatoly Sobchak]], who was one of [[Vladimir Putin]]'s mentors, and the [[Federation Council (Russia)|Russian senator]] [[Lyudmila Narusova]]. Sobchak became known to the wider public as the host of the [[Reality television|reality show]] ''[[Dom-2]],'' which aired on the Russian channel [[TNT (Russian TV channel)|TNT]]. Later she became an anchor at independent television channel [[TV Rain]]. As of January 2023, she hosts the television show [[:ru:Док-Ток|Dok-Tok]] with [[Alexander Gordon (journalist)|Alexander Gordon]].
'''Kseniya Anatolyevna Sobchak''' ({{lang-ru|Ксе́ния Анато́льевна Собча́к}}), born November 5, 1981 in [[Leningrad]], [[Soviet Union]] (present day [[Saint Petersburg]], [[Russia]]). Russian TV anchor, journalist, socialite, and member of political opposition. Sobchak became known to the wider public as a host of the [[reality show]] "[[Dom-2]]" on the Russian channel TNT. She is sometimes described as Russia's "[[It girl]]"<ref>{{cite news|last=Mills|first=Laura|last2=Vasilyeva|first2=Nataliya|title=Ksenia Sobchak: Russian It Girl’s path from parties to protests|url=http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1211392--ksenia-sobchak-russia-it-girl-s-path-from-parties-to-protests|accessdate=3 July 2012|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|date=14 June 2012}}</ref> and "Russia's [[Paris Hilton]]".<ref>{{cite news|first=Anne|last=Barnard|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/world/europe/27tabloids.html|title=Raucous Russian Tabloids Thrive|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2008-07-27|accessdate=2009-01-29}}</ref> However, lately she transitioned from a celebrity socialite into a prominent political activist, and has been protesting alleged electoral fraud by the [[Russian President]], [[Vladimir Putin]]. Sobchak is an anchor at an independent TV channel [[Dozhd]] and a member of the [[Russian Opposition Coordination Council]].


Sobchak was the [[Civic Initiative]]'s candidate for the [[2018 Russian presidential election]].
==Biography==
She is a second daughter of the first democratically elected mayor of Saint Petersburg [[Anatoly Sobchak]] and [[Lyudmila Narusova]], a Russian politician.


==Early life and education==
As a child she attended the ballet school attached to the [[Mariinsky Theatre]] and the [[Hermitage Museum]] art school. In 1998, Ksenia left the school attached to [[Herzen University]], and enrolled at the [[Saint Petersburg State University]] (Department of International Relations). In 2001 she moved to [[Moscow]] and enrolled in the International Relations program at the [[Moscow State Institute of International Relations]]. In 2002 she enrolled in a masters program at the department of [[politology|politics]] at the same university.
Sobchak is the second daughter of the first democratically elected [[Governor of Saint Petersburg|mayor of Saint Petersburg]] [[Anatoly Sobchak]] and [[Lyudmila Narusova]], a Russian politician. Sobchak has described herself as being of part Jewish heritage.<ref name="Balakhcheyeva-2013">{{cite news |url=http://www.eg.ru/daily/cadr/38229/ |last=Balakhcheyeva |first=Elmira |title=Ксения Собчак обнажила свои еврейские корни |trans-title=Ksenia Sobchak reveals her Jewish roots |lang=ru |date=2013-05-14 |work=Express Gazeta |access-date=28 February 2015 |archive-date=29 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529113247/http://www.eg.ru/daily/cadr/38229/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Sobchak also revealed that she and her family experienced anti-Semitism.<ref name="Balakhcheyeva-2013"/>


As a child, Sobchak attended the ballet school attached to the [[Mariinsky Theatre]]. She also attended the [[Hermitage Museum]] art school. In 1998, Sobchak left the school attached to [[Herzen University]], and enrolled at the [[Saint Petersburg State University]] (Department of International Relations).<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ksenia-sobchak-russian-socialite-challenging-putin-2018-1#sobchaks-childhood-was-spent-attending-the-famous-heritage-museum-art-school-she-also-took-ballet-classes-as-the-mariinsky-theater-in-st-petersburg-3 |title=Meet 'Russia's Paris Hilton' Ksenia Sobchak, the 36-year-old socialite challenging Putin for the Russian presidency |work=Business Insider |access-date=3 April 2018 |archive-date=3 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403234851/http://www.businessinsider.com/ksenia-sobchak-russian-socialite-challenging-putin-2018-1#sobchaks-childhood-was-spent-attending-the-famous-heritage-museum-art-school-she-also-took-ballet-classes-as-the-mariinsky-theater-in-st-petersburg-3 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2001, Sobchak moved to [[Moscow]] and enrolled in the International Relations program at the [[Moscow State Institute of International Relations]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/ksenia-sobchak-russias-star-presidential-candidate-59377 |title=Ksenia Sobchak, Russia's Star Presidential Candidate, Will Be Heard |access-date=3 April 2018 |language=en |archive-date=25 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825113246/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2017/10/26/ksenia-sobchak-russias-star-presidential-candidate-a59377 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Sobchak acted in the 2004 film ''Thieves and Prostitutes''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2446117/bio|title=Kseniya Sobchak - Biography|work=[[Internet Movie Data Base]]|accessdate=2009-03-06}}</ref>


==Entertainment career==
She is also known as a clothes designer and promoter of rubber boots. In June 2006 she created her first collection of such boots.


===Television===
In 2004, Sobchak was identified as a candidate to become Russia's first national Space Tourist, flying to the [[International Space Station]] aboard a Soyuz rocket. She may have undertaken some initial tests and cosmonaut training, but the project came to nothing.
[[File:Xenia Sobchak 2010 Moscow.jpg|thumb|upright|Sobchak in 2010, before involvement in politics]]
Sobchak became famous in 2004, as a host of the reality show ''[[Dom-2]]''. She left the show in 2012, because the show's [[Low culture|lowbrow]] orientation became incongruent with her political activism.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/sobchak-quits-dom-2/461372.html |title=Sobchak Quits 'Dom 2' |publisher=Themoscowtimes.com |date=1 July 2012 |access-date=22 March 2018 |archive-date=12 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512220724/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/sobchak-quits-dom-2/461372.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


From 2008 to 2010, Sobchak was a host of the reality shows ''Who does NOT want to be a millionaire?'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nomillion.narod.ru/ |title=кто не хочет стать миллионером онлайн |trans-title=who doesn't want to become a millionaire online |publisher=Nomillion.narod.ru |access-date=22 March 2018 |archive-date=23 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623133153/http://nomillion.narod.ru/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Last Hero]]-6'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1tv.ru/hero/ |title=СМОТРИТЕ КРУГЛОСУТОЧНЫЙ КАНАЛ "ПОСЛЕДНИЙ ГЕРОЙ" |trans-title=WATCH THE LAST HERO 24/7 CHANNEL |access-date=26 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821071838/http://www.1tv.ru/hero/ |archive-date=21 August 2011 }}</ref> and ''Sweet life of a blonde'', ''Muz-TV Awards'', and ''Two stars''.
She also acted against the newly produced law that prohibits sharing of private lives of Russian celebrities without their permission.{{Citation needed|date=July 2008}}


In 2010, Sobchak became a host of the TV program ''Freedom of Thought'' on the state-run [[5TV (Russian TV channel)|Channel 5]]. She soon left the program, since, according to her, it turned into a never-ending discussion of public utilities maintenance.
On 28 December 2008, Sobchak was on an Aeroflot flight from Moscow to New York when she and other passengers determined that the pilot was drunk prior to take-off. Sobchak used her socialite status to call Aeroflot representatives and remove the pilot from the cockpit.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/4448262/Aeroflot-says-drunk-pilot-no-big-deal.html | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Aeroflot says drunk pilot 'no big deal' | first=Adrian | last=Blomfield | date=2009-02-03 | accessdate=2010-05-07}}</ref>


Since 2011, Sobchak has hosted the program ''Sobchak Live'' on the independent channel [[TV Rain]] and [[Top Model po-russki]] on [[Muz-TV]].
Russia's Tatler magazine made the list of most desirable single women in the country. The list is based on women's fortune and their celebrity status. She is known across Russia as a socialite, TV host and presenter. Ksenia is Russia's No.1 'it girl', an analogue to [[Paris Hilton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.pravda.ru/photo/report/women-4384|title=Russia's most desirable single woman|accessdate=2009-09-23 |date=2009-09-02 |publisher=[[Pravda.ru]]}}</ref>


In 2012, she appeared in the television series ''[[Brief Guide To A Happy Life]]''.
==Career==


On 7 September 2012, MTV Russia launched a talk-show ''GosDep (State Department) with Ksenia Sobchak''. The show aimed to cover hot social and political issues. The first episode of the show, titled "Where is Putin leading us?" featured interviews with the head of [[Left Front (Russia)|Left Front]] [[Sergei Udaltsov]], member of "[[Solidarnost]]" (Solidarity) movement [[Ilya Yashin]], and eco-activist [[Yevgeniya Chirikova]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ria.ru/media/20120208/560540913.html |title=MTV объясняет появление "Госдепа с Ксенией Собчак" запросом аудитории - РИА Новости |trans-title=MTV explains the appearance of the "State Department with Ksenia Sobchak" by the request of the audience - RIA Novosti |publisher=Ria.ru |date=8 February 2012 |access-date=22 March 2018 |archive-date=21 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021111925/https://ria.ru/media/20120208/560540913.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The show was cancelled after one episode. The second episode would have included an interview with anti-corruption blogger [[Alexei Navalny]]. MTV Russia representatives said the show was cancelled because of the lack of interest in politics among the channel's audience.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ria.ru/media/20120214/565827281.html |title=Телеканал MTV приостановил ток-шоу "Госдеп с Ксенией Собчак" - РИА Новости |trans-title=MTV channel suspended talk show "State Department with Ksenia Sobchak" - RIA Novosti |publisher=Ria.ru |date=14 February 2012 |access-date=22 March 2018 |archive-date=23 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623221951/https://ria.ru/media/20120214/565827281.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
===TV===
<nowiki> </nowiki>Kseniya Sobchak first got famous in 2004, when she became a host of the reality show Dom-2. She left the show in 2012, because the show's low-brow orientation became incongruent with her political activism.<ref>http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/sobchak-quits-dom-2/461372.html</ref>


As of January 2023, she hosts the television show [[:ru:Док-Ток|Dok-Tok]] with [[Alexander Gordon (journalist)|Alexander Gordon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.1tv.ru/shows/doctalk|title=Док-ток. Первый канал|website=1tv.ru|access-date=23 January 2023|archive-date=16 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116174721/https://www.1tv.ru/shows/doctalk|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2008-2010 Sobchak was a host of the reality shows "Who does NOT want to be a millionaire?",<ref>http://nomillion.narod.ru/</ref> "Last Hero-6",<ref>http://www.1tv.ru/hero/</ref> and "Sweet life of a blonde," "Myz-TV Awards," and "Two stars."


===Film===
In 2010 Sobchak became a host of the TV program "Freedom of thought" on the state-run [[Petersburg - Channel 5|Channel 5]]. However, she soon left the program, since, according to her, it turned into a never-ending discussion of public utilities maintenance.
Sobchak acted in the comedies ''[[Hitler Goes Kaput!]]'', ''[[Rzhevsky Versus Napoleon]]'', ''[[The Best Movie]]'' and ''[[:ru:Энтропия (фильм)|Entropiya]]''. Sobchak also acted in the film ''Thieves and Prostitutes''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2446117/bio |title=Kseniya Sobchak - Biography |work=[[IMDb|Internet Movie Database]] |access-date=6 March 2009 |archive-date=14 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714113609/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2446117/bio |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== Music ===
Since 2011 Sobchak is hosting the program "Sobchak Live" on the independent channel [[Dozhd]].
In 2007, Sobchak recorded the song 'Dance with me (Потанцуй со мной)' with Russian rapper [[Timati]], as well as a music video. Russian media at the time attributed a relationship between Sobchak and Timati.<ref>[http://rosregistr.ru/raznoe/66176.html Coбчɑĸ ϲoбρɑлɑϲь нɑ ʙыбoρы бeɜ пoлuтuчeϲĸoй пρoгρɑммы] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904185833/http://rosregistr.ru/raznoe/66176.html |date=4 September 2021 }} (''tr. "General selection of candidates without a policy program "'') Соломия КомароваПн, 23 October 2017</ref>


=== Annual income ===
On September 7, 2012 MTV Russia launched a talk-show "GosDep with Kseniya Sobchak". The show was supposed to cover hot social and political issues. The first episode of the show, titled "Where is Putin leading us?" featured interviews with the head of "Left Front" Sergei Udaltsov, member of "Solidarity" movement Ilya Yashin, and eco-activist Yevgeniya Chirikova.<ref>http://ria.ru/media/20120208/560540913.html</ref>
According to Forbes Magazine, in 2021 Sobchak was the 7th highest paid celebrity in Russia.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.forbes.ru/profile/kseniya-sobchak |title=Ксения Собчак |trans-title=Ksenia Sobchak |language=ru |magazine=Forbes.ru |date=2022 |access-date=28 October 2022 |archive-date=28 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328134053/http://www.forbes.ru/profile/kseniya-sobchak |url-status=live }}</ref> She has been ranked as high as #4 (2010) and as low as #15 (2016) of Russian celebrities. Her income in 2017 was around US$2.1&nbsp;million. The main source of this annual revenue is from advertising contracts.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.forbes.ru/profile/kseniya-sobchak |title=Ксения Собчак |trans-title=Ksenia Sobchak |language=ru |magazine=Forbes.ru |date=2018 |access-date=28 October 2022 |url-status=usurped<!-- the version of this web page with the 2017 ranking is no longer available at Forbes.ru, even though the most current version is. Marking this as usurped so that readers use the archived copy of the older version with the 2017 ranking. --> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117171803/http://www.forbes.ru/profile/kseniya-sobchak |archive-date=17 January 2018}}</ref>

=== Euroset ===
It was reported that Sobchak sold her ownership stake in [[Euroset]] for $2.3&nbsp;million in December 2012.<ref>[http://www.rbc.ru/society/10/12/2012/570400bf9a7947fcbd443663 Mass media: K.Sobchak broke up with I.Yashin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131145454/https://www.rbc.ru/society/10/12/2012/570400bf9a7947fcbd443663 |date=31 January 2023 }} SOCIETY, 10 December 2012 16:49</ref>

=== Other ===
Around the time of her interview of [[Valērijs Kargins]] in [[Riga]], she and [[:ru:Робски, Оксана Викторовна|Oksana Robski]] ({{langx|ru|Оксана Робски}}) released the perfume ''Married to a Millionaire'' ({{langx|ru|"Zамуж за миллионера"}}).<ref>{{cite news |last=Румянцева |first=Юлия (Rumyantseva, Julia) |url=http://subbota.com/2007/03/01/ze006.html |title=В чем Собчак уступила Каргину? Самая стильная девушка России отвечает на вопросы "Субботы" |trans-title=In what way did Sobchak lose to Kargin? The most stylish girl in Russia answers the questions of "Saturday" |language=ru |website=subbota.com (Суббота) (№ 9) |date=1 March 2007 |access-date=25 November 2020 |archive-date=23 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023091621/http://subbota.com/2007/03/01/ze006.html?r=6&}}</ref>

On 28 December 2008, Sobchak was on an [[Aeroflot]] flight from Moscow to [[New York City]] when she and other passengers determined that the pilot was drunk prior to take-off. Sobchak phoned Aeroflot who replaced the flight deck crew.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/4448262/Aeroflot-says-drunk-pilot-no-big-deal.html |title=Aeroflot says drunk pilot 'no big deal' |last=Blomfield |first=Adrian |date=3 February 2009 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=7 May 2010 |location=London |archive-date=29 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629153639/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/4448262/Aeroflot-says-drunk-pilot-no-big-deal.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2009, Russia's ''[[Tatler]]'' magazine included her in a list of most desirable single women in the country. The list was based on women's fortune and celebrity status. She is known across Russia as a socialite, TV host and presenter. Sobchak was Russia's No.1 "[[it girl]]", an analogue to [[Paris Hilton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.pravda.ru/photo/report/women-4384 |title=Russia's most desirable single woman |date=2 September 2009 |publisher=[[Pravda.ru]]|access-date=23 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929065341/http://english.pravda.ru/photo/report/women-4384|archive-date=29 September 2009|url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Political background and activities==
==Political background and activities==
===Background===
Sobchak's father, Anatoly, helped [[Vladimir Putin]] launch his career in politics when he was the mayor of [[St. Petersburg]]. Putin then helped Anatoly flee Russia when he was wanted on corruption charges.<ref name=Moscow>[http://themoscownews.com/politics/20111027/189159619.html ''Splurge scandal at restaurant''], The Moscow News, retrieved 15/12/2011</ref> According to the [[Moscow News]], "Putin's reported affection for the Sobchak family is widely believed to give Ksenia Sobchak a protected status, which may also explain her boldness", such as her encounter in October 2011 with [[Vasily Yakemenko]], the controversial leader of the pro-Kremlin [[Nashi (youth movement)|Nashi]] youth movement, when she reprimanded him for eating at an expensive restaurant in Moscow and published a video of the encounter on the internet.<ref name=Moscow/>
[[File:Vladimir Putin 24 February 2000-2.jpg|thumb|[[Lyudmila Putina]], [[Vladimir Putin]], [[Lyudmila Narusova]] and Ksenia Sobchak (left to right) at the funeral of her father and Putin's former mentor,<ref>Newsweek, "Russia's Mighty Mouse", 25 February 2008.</ref> [[Anatoly Sobchak]] in 2000]]
However, less than two months later her further actions have caused her relationship with Putin to look more questionable. After the [[Russian legislative election, 2011|parliament elections]] held on December 4, 2011, which are known for the large number of alleged fraud reports, Sobchak joined the [[2011–2012 Russian protests|protest rallies]] held in Russia as a response to the alleged electoral frauds.<ref name=NYTit>{{cite news|title=Russia's Scandalous 'It Girl' Remakes Herself as an Unlikely Face of Protest|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/world/europe/kseniya-sobchak-russias-it-girl-dons-opposition-cloak.html|accessdate=March 18, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 17, 2012|author=Ellen Barry}}</ref> She also took part in the campaign against Putin's re-election, working as an observer during the [[Russian presidential election, 2012|president elections]] held on March 4, 2012. She was one of the Russian protest leaders targeted by the [[Investigative Committee of Russia]] on June 12, 2012 when her apartment in Moscow was entered and searched.<ref name=NYTM7312>{{cite news|title=Ksenia Sobchak, the Stiletto in Putin’s Side|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/magazine/ksenia-sobchak-the-stiletto-in-putins-side.html|accessdate=June 9, 2012|newspaper=The [[New York Times Magazine]]|date=July 3, 2012|author=Andrew Meier}}</ref>


Sobchak's father, Anatoly, had been both [[Vladimir Putin]]'s and [[Dmitry Medvedev]]'s law professor at [[Saint Petersburg State University Faculty of Law|Leningrad State University]]. He built a close relationship with Putin, in particular, and in 1991 Anatoly helped launch Putin's career in politics when he was the mayor of Saint Petersburg. Putin then helped Anatoly flee Russia when he was wanted on corruption charges.<ref name="Arutunyan-2011">{{cite news |url=http://themoscownews.com/politics/20111027/189159619.html |last=Arutunyan |first=Anna |title=Splurge scandal at restaurant |work=The Moscow News |date=2011-10-27 |access-date=2011-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106082121/http://themoscownews.com/politics/20111027/189159619.html |archive-date=6 January 2012}}</ref> According to the [[Moscow News]], "Putin's reported affection for the Sobchak family is widely believed to give Ksenia Sobchak a protected status, which may also explain her boldness", such as her encounter in October 2011 with [[Vasily Yakemenko]], the controversial leader of the pro-Kremlin [[Nashi (youth movement)|Nashi]] youth movement, when she reprimanded him for eating at an expensive restaurant in Moscow and published a video of the encounter on the internet.<ref name="Arutunyan-2011"/>
==Videos==

*2007: Dance (Потанцуй) <small>(With [[Timati]])</small>
==="Everyone is Free!"===
At the end of March 2006, Sobchak rented a two-story mansion at 16 [[Arbat Street]] and convened a press conference to announce the creation of the youth movement "Everyone is Free!" According to the TV presenter, she was prompted to take this step by numerous letters in which fans of her work in ''[[Dom-2]]'' shared their problems and experiences. Sobchak felt that political positions and opposition served only as a pretext for realizing her ambitions and declared her movement non-political, aimed at providing help and support to young people. Sobchak promised to provide funding for "Everyone is Free!" from her personal funds. The rented building on Arbat was hastily renovated and decorated in the movement's "signature" color of blue denim; it housed the movement's headquarters and a reception area for those wishing to join.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bg.ru/society/kazhdomu_svoe-5976/ |title=Каждому своё |trans-title=To each his own |lang=ru |last=Krongauz |first=Yekaterina |date=2006-07-18 |publisher=[[:ru:Большой город (журнал)|Bolshoi gorod]] |accessdate=2018-04-02 |archive-date=2018-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402225637/http://bg.ru/society/kazhdomu_svoe-5976/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The ''[[Izvestia]]'' newspaper conducted an online survey in which, after the press conference, users were asked about their desire to join Sobchak's movement. The results showed a lack of enthusiasm: of 2,133 respondents, only 6% expressed a desire to join for political reasons or sympathy for the leader, and 38% admitted that they did not know who Ksenia Sobchak was. After the first press conference, Sobchak stopped communicating with journalists for a month. On 7 July, she avoided participating in a debate with the leader of the youth branch of the [[Rodina (political party)|Rodina]] party, [[Sergey Shargunov]], at the Club on Brestskaya, which caused dissatisfaction among the youth politicians and journalists who attended the event.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svoboda.org/a/160316.html |title=Насколько политически активна нынешняя российская молодёжь |trans-title=How politically active are today's Russian youth? |last1=Sharogradsky |first1=Andrei |last2=Yaroshevsky |first2=Maxim |newspaper=Радио Свобода |date=2006-06-07 |publisher=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |accessdate=2018-04-02 |archive-date=2018-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403051520/https://www.svoboda.org/a/160316.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 12 June, "Everyone is Free!" declared itself with a street action dedicated to improving the square around the [[:ru:Памятник Есенину на Тверском бульваре|monument to Sergei Yesenin on Tverskoy Boulevard]]. Participants in the movement collected garbage, painted benches and playgrounds on the boulevard, and Sobchak herself, in the presence of journalists and onlookers, wiped off a yellow bikini with a red heart drawn by an unknown vandal from the crotch of the Yesenin monument. According to local residents, on the morning of that day, there was no paint on the monument, and it appeared only before the event. The action ended with a small concert and fashion show on a stage near the monument.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vz.ru/society/2006/7/12/41200.html |title=Собчак и её команда |trans-title=Sobchak and her team |lang=ru |last=Filatov |first=Konstantin |date=2006-06-12 |publisher=[[Vzglyad (newspaper)|Vzglyad]] |accessdate=2018-04-02 |archive-date=2018-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402225443/https://vz.ru/society/2006/7/12/41200.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In early July, a "club day" was held at the movement's headquarters. Sobchak made policy statements and issued club cards to the most active participants, providing free access to nightclubs, discounts, and other privileges. During the meeting, Sobchak presented a presentation on the goals and moral guidelines of the movement, in which two slides were occupied by the declared sponsors: [[Microsoft]], [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]], [[Russian Standard Bank]], the [[Renaissance Capital]] investment bank, [[Lukoil]], [[MegaFon]], the [[:ru:Билингва (клуб)|Bilingua]] cafe-club, and other companies. "Club day" ended with a debate between writers Oksana Robski and [[Sergey Minaev]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lenta.ru/articles/2006/07/05/vsesvobodny/ |title=По ту сторону ширинки |trans-title=On the other side of the fly |last1=Grushin |first1=Ivan |last2=Avdeyev |first2=Maxim |date=2006-07-05 |publisher=[[Lenta.ru]] |accessdate=2018-04-02 |lang=ru |archive-date=2020-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806080016/https://lenta.ru/articles/2006/07/05/vsesvobodny/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

At first, the movement was the cause of gossip in the political environment: experts and young politicians tried to understand Sobchak's motivations. Political scientist and contemporary art collector [[Marat Gelman]] suggested that Sobchak could have set her sights on a political career in [[United Russia]] and was gathering her supporters ahead of the [[2007 Russian legislative election]]. The head of [[:ru:Молодёжное Яблоко|Yabloko Youth]], [[Ilya Yashin]], doubted Sobchak's independence and shared with journalists his opinion that "Everyone is Free!" could have been created to criticize the opposition with the approval of the [[Presidential Administration of Russia|Presidential Administration]]. The leader of the pro-Kremlin ''[[Nashi (youth movement)|Nashi]]'' movement, [[Vasily Yakemenko]], doubted the Kremlin's involvement in the creation of the "Everyone is Free!" movement: in his opinion, Sobchak could both be useful to the Presidential Administration and discredit the Russian authorities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/676653 |title=Наш "Дом" — "Единая Россия" |trans-title=Our "Home" - "United Russia" |lang=ru |last=Savina |first=Yekaterina |date=2006-05-26 |publisher=[[Kommersant]] |accessdate=2018-04-02 |archive-date=2018-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402225638/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/676653 |url-status=live}}</ref> Subsequently, the movement ceased any activity, and journalists mentioned Sobchak as the head of "Everyone is Free!" only once - in the context of discussing the elections to the [[Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg]] of the fourth convocation, which it considered fictitious, and the construction of the [[Okhta Center]] skyscraper for [[Gazprom]] on the right bank of the [[Neva]] opposite the [[:ru:Смольный собор|Smolny Cathedral]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lenta.ru/lib/14159835/ |title=Собчак, Ксения |trans-title=Sobchak, Ksenia |lang=ru |publisher=Lentapedia |accessdate=2018-03-28 |archive-date=2017-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402120610/https://lenta.ru/lib/14159835/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.zaks.ru/new/archive/view/28244-0/ |title=Ксения Собчак: Выборы в Законодательное собрание Петербурга — лишь видимость |trans-title=Ksenia Sobchak: Elections to the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg are just an appearance |lang=ru |date=2007-03-23 |publisher=zaks.ru |accessdate=2018-04-02 |archive-date=2018-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403051532/https://www.zaks.ru/new/archive/view/28244-0/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Russian presidential election, 2018===
{{See also|Ksenia Sobchak presidential campaign, 2018}}
[[File:Sobchak 2018 logo.png|thumb|Sobchak 2018 logo]]
[[File:Ksenia Sobchak (26560265179) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Sobchak during the presidential election campaign]]
In September 2017, prior to her announcement to run, Putin said of Sobchak's presidential intentions to a press conference at the [[9th BRICS summit]], that "Every person has the right to nominate himself in accordance with the law. And Ksenia Sobchak is not an exception here. I respect her father [[Anatoly Sobchak]], I believe that he was an outstanding figure in contemporary Russian history. I'm saying this without a trace of irony. He was very decent, played a big role in my own destiny. But when it comes to running for presidency, things of a personal nature cannot play any significant role. It depends on what program she's offering, if she'll actually run, and how she'll build her presidential campaign".<ref>[https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2017/09/05/732366-putin-sobchak Putin commented on the possible participation of Xenia Sobchak in presidential elections] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028045022/https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2017/09/05/732366-putin-sobchak |date=28 October 2017 }} 5 September 10:30, Margarita Papchenkova, Sergey Smirnov, Vedomosti</ref>

Sobchak declared her candidacy in the [[2018 Russian presidential election|Russian presidential election 2018]] on 18 October 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russia-gets-a-new-candidate-for-president-is-she-serious/2017/10/18/bfdb99f6-b41d-11e7-9b93-b97043e57a22_story.html |title=Russia gets a new candidate for president. Is she serious? |last=Roth |first=Andrew |date=18 October 2017 |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=18 October 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=18 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018223643/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russia-gets-a-new-candidate-for-president-is-she-serious/2017/10/18/bfdb99f6-b41d-11e7-9b93-b97043e57a22_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Prior to the announcement of her intention to enter the [[2018 Russian presidential election|Presidential race]] in 2018, Sobchak discussed her intention personally with Putin. She said: "With Vladimir Vladimirovich, my family has been associated with a great deal... so I felt it right to say that I made such a decision". Putin, she said, told her that "every person has the right to make their own decisions and must be responsible for them".<ref>[https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2017/10/18/738451-sobchak-putinim Sobchak met with Putin before announcing her participation in the elections] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028044650/https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2017/10/18/738451-sobchak-putinim |date=28 October 2017 }} 18 October, Sergey Smirnov, Vedomosti</ref>

Sobchak was the [[Civic Initiative]]'s candidate for the [[2018 Russian presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://rg.ru/2018/02/08/kseniia-sobchak-zaregistrirovana-kandidatom-v-prezidenty-rossii.html |script-title=ru:Ксения Собчак зарегистрирована кандидатом в Президенты России |trans-title=Ksenia Sobchak is registered as a candidate for the President of Russia |work=Rossiyskaya Gazeta |date=8 February 2018 |access-date=8 February 2018 |language=ru-RU |archive-date=28 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128061541/https://rg.ru/2018/02/08/kseniia-sobchak-zaregistrirovana-kandidatom-v-prezidenty-rossii.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Some skeptics accused Sobchak of being a spoiler to undermine [[Alexei Navalny]]; every recent election for the presidency has featured a prominent liberal candidate handpicked by the Kremlin. Other skeptics suspect Sobchak's candidacy is mostly about building her brand. Sobchak did not believe she could win against Putin in 2018, but has stated she's in it for the long haul: "Of course I want to be president, I want to win, but I also want to be sincere. In a system created by Putin, it is only possible for Putin to win. I am realistic about who will become the president."<ref>{{cite news |last1=MacFarquhar |first1=Neil |title=Seeking Russian Presidency, Socialite Hits the Campaign Trail |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/30/world/europe/russia-sobchak-presidential-election.html |access-date=1 December 2017 |work=The New York Times |date=30 November 2017 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130201920/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/30/world/europe/russia-sobchak-presidential-election.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 15 March 2018, Sobchak and [[Dmitry Gudkov]] announced the creation of a new party, called the [[Party of Changes]] on the basis of the party Civic Initiative.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.interfax.ru/russia/603784 |title=Дмитрий Гудков и Ксения Собчак создадут "Партию перемен" |trans-title=Dmitry Gudkov and Ksenia Sobchak will create the "Party of Change" |publisher=Interfax.ru |date=15 March 2018 |access-date=22 March 2018 |archive-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126115759/https://www.interfax.ru/russia/603784 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Mariya Petkova |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/russia-ksenia-sobchak-announces-party-vote-180315181119388.html |title=Russia's Ksenia Sobchak announces new party before election |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=15 March 2018 |access-date=22 March 2018 |archive-date=22 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322051941/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/russia-ksenia-sobchak-announces-party-vote-180315181119388.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The aim was of party was to "return our freedom and your freedom".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2018/03/15/sobchak-announces-new-political-party-for-change-a60831 |title=Sobchak Announces New Political Party 'For Change' |last=Times |first=The Moscow |date=15 March 2018 |newspaper=[[The Moscow Times]] |language=en |access-date=1 August 2019 |archive-date=1 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801190444/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2018/03/15/sobchak-announces-new-political-party-for-change-a60831 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sobchak won 1.68% of the vote in the 2018 presidential election.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cikrf.ru/eng/information-center/results-of-russian-presidential-elections-2018.php |title=Results of Russian Presidential Elections 2018 |accessdate=6 May 2022 |archive-date=4 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904185833/http://www.cikrf.ru/eng/information-center/results-of-russian-presidential-elections-2018.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Flight from Russia===

On 26 October 2022, Russian media reported that Sobchak would be detained as part of an investigation into the alleged extortion of 11 million rubles from the head of [[Rostec]], [[Sergei Chemezov]], by Sobchak's director [[Kirill Sukhanov]]. Lithuanian authorities confirmed that Sobchak had entered [[Lithuania]] and was entitled to stay for 90 days without a visa because she was an Israeli citizen.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-63398914 |title=Ксения Собчак уехала из России. Ее сотрудника арестовали по делу о вымогательстве у Чемезова |language=ru |trans-title=Ksenia Sobchak left Russia. Her employee was arrested in the case of extortion from Chemezov |website=[[BBC News Russian]] |date=26 October 2022 |access-date=27 October 2022 |archive-date=14 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214203233/https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-63398914 |url-status=live }}</ref> The raid came after the arrest of Kirill Sukhanov, a commercial director at Sobchak's media group, "Ostorozhno, Media", for alleged extortion, with Sobchak reportedly being a suspect in the case.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/10/26/ksenia-sobchak-leaves-russia-as-police-raid-her-home-reports-a79197 |title=Ksenia Sobchak Leaves Russia as Police Raid Her Home – Reports |website=[[The Moscow Times]] |date=26 October 2022 |access-date=27 October 2022 |archive-date=27 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027072422/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/10/26/ksenia-sobchak-leaves-russia-as-police-raid-her-home-reports-a79197 |url-status=live }}</ref> Lithuanian border officials said that Sobchak had arrived on an Israeli passport, while Sobchak called the case an attack on her editorial team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20221026-russian-media-figure-flees-to-lithuania |title=Russian media figure flees to Lithuania |website=[[Agence France-Presse|France 24]] |date=26 October 2022 |language=en |location=Vilnius |access-date=27 October 2022 |archive-date=27 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027163205/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20221026-russian-media-figure-flees-to-lithuania |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ksenia Sobchak, Russian star linked to Putin, fled using Israeli passport |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ksenia-sobchak-russian-star-linked-to-putin-fled-using-israeli-passport/ar-AA13ry8t |access-date=27 October 2022 |website=MSN |language=en-US |archive-date=28 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028054600/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ksenia-sobchak-russian-star-linked-to-putin-fled-using-israeli-passport/ar-AA13ry8t |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=TV host and ex-presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak flees Russia after apartment search |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/tv-host-and-ex-presidential-candidate-ksenia-sobchak-flees-russia-after-apartment-search/ar-AA13qSve |access-date=27 October 2022 |website=MSN |language=en-US |archive-date=27 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027163448/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/tv-host-and-ex-presidential-candidate-ksenia-sobchak-flees-russia-after-apartment-search/ar-AA13qSve |url-status=live }}</ref> Then, days after she fled the country, she returned to Russia, according to state media.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ksenia Sobchak Returns to Russia Amid Extortion Case – State Media|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/11/07/ksenia-sobchak-returns-to-russia-amid-extortion-case-state-media-a79305|date=7 November 2022|website=[[The Moscow Times]]|access-date=24 November 2022|archive-date=25 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825113224/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/11/07/ksenia-sobchak-returns-to-russia-amid-extortion-case-state-media-a79305|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Political views==
[[File:Kseniya Sobchak (7174599660).jpg|right|thumb|Sobchak at a demonstration in Moscow in May 2012]]
In 2012, Sobchak was critical of Putin's political policies. Although she stated that she had "happily" voted for Putin when she was younger, she would not do so any longer. In the [[2012 Russian presidential election]], Sobchak says she voted for [[Mikhail Prokhorov]].<ref name="Super-2015">{{cite news |url=https://www.svoboda.org/a/27154689.html |title=Мое главное слово – "свобода"! |trans-title=My main word is "freedom"! |date=27 July 2015 |last=Super |first=Roman |work=Svoboda |access-date=26 October 2017 |archive-date=29 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229095258/https://www.svoboda.org/a/27154689.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

After the [[2011 Russian legislative election|parliament elections]] held on 4 December 2011, which are known for the large number of alleged fraud reports, Sobchak joined the [[2011–2012 Russian protests|protest rallies]] held in Russia as a response to the alleged electoral frauds.<ref>{{cite news |title=Russia's Scandalous 'It Girl' Remakes Herself as an Unlikely Face of Protest |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/world/europe/kseniya-sobchak-russias-it-girl-dons-opposition-cloak.html |access-date=18 March 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=17 March 2012 |author=Ellen Barry |archive-date=30 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130194437/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/world/europe/kseniya-sobchak-russias-it-girl-dons-opposition-cloak.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She also took part in the campaign against Putin's re-election, working as an observer during the [[2012 Russian presidential election|president elections]] held on 4 March 2012. She was one of the Russian protest participants targeted by the [[Investigative Committee of Russia]] on 12 June 2012, when her apartment in Moscow was entered and searched.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ksenia Sobchak, the Stiletto in Putin's Side |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/magazine/ksenia-sobchak-the-stiletto-in-putins-side.html |access-date=9 June 2012 |newspaper=The [[New York Times Magazine]] |date=3 July 2012 |author=Andrew Meier |archive-date=4 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704033557/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/magazine/ksenia-sobchak-the-stiletto-in-putins-side.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Economic views ===
Outlining her economic views, she writes:

{{blockquote|Russia is a country of a free economy with a strong state sector. All large state corporations should be privatized with antitrust restrictions. The state should not control any sectors of the economy, the state's share in enterprises and industries should be limited to breaking up monopolies. Private property should be protected by law, the review of any ownership and nationalization are possible only on a reimbursable basis on the basis of independent market valuations. Reform of tax and regulatory legislation and practices should stimulate the development of private entrepreneurship, small and medium-sized businesses, technological and innovative development of enterprises, education. The list of licensed branches of the economy should be significantly reduced.<ref name="Sobchak-2017">{{cite web|url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2017/09/30/736005-sobchak-viborah-prezidenta|title=Ксения Собчак объявила об участии в выборах президента России|language=ru|trans-title=Ksenia Sobchak announced the participation in the presidential elections in Russia|date=18 October 2017|last=Sobchak|first=Ksenia|author-link=Ksenia Sobchak|work=Vedomosti|access-date=27 October 2017|archive-date=27 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327075000/https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2017/09/30/736005-sobchak-viborah-prezidenta|url-status=live}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=July 2023}}}}

=== Views on feminism ===
In her 2017 manifesto, she criticised the lack of women's representation in industry and politics.

{{blockquote|Almost 500 heavy professions in Russia are officially closed to women. But among all the others – the salary of a woman is almost 30% less than that of a man. Among the most important companies in the country, women head only about 5%. ... In any case, half the country's population deserves a female voice for the first time in 14 years in these allegedly male games.<ref name="Sobchak-2017"/>{{primary source inline|date=July 2023}}}}

=== On the status of Crimea ===
Ksenia Sobchak is of the opinion that, [[2014 Russian annexation of Crimea|having annexed]] [[Crimea]] from [[Ukraine]] in 2014, Russia violated the [[1994 Budapest Memorandum]]; she claimed on 24 October 2017 that "Under these agreements, we agreed that Crimea is Ukrainian, which is the most important for me". Sobchak stressed that she did not consider the issue with Crimea resolved. "I believe that these things need to be discussed, it is very important to discuss them&nbsp;... look for some ways out."<ref name="UNIAN-2017">{{cite news |url=https://www.unian.info/politics/2204939-putins-rival-ksenia-sobchak-crimea-belongs-to-ukraine-under-law.html |title=Putin's rival Ksenia Sobchak: Crimea belongs to Ukraine under law |work=[[UNIAN]] |date=2017-10-24 |access-date=28 October 2017 |archive-date=28 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228082737/https://www.unian.info/politics/2204939-putins-rival-ksenia-sobchak-crimea-belongs-to-ukraine-under-law.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{in lang|ru}} [https://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=2947336 Ksenia Sobchak: the question of belonging to the Crimea should be discussed] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915001954/https://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=2947336 |date=15 September 2018 }}, [[vesti.ru]], 25 October 2017</ref> She also added that "the most important thing that [[Russian-Ukrainian relations|Russia and Ukraine]] should do now is to restore our friendship at any cost."<ref name="UNIAN-2017"/> Simultaneously she suggested to hold a new [[2014 Crimean status referendum|referendum on the status of Crimea]] after "a broad and equal campaign."<ref>[https://www.unian.info/politics/2212414-sobchak-stands-for-new-referendum-in-crimea.html Sobchak stands for new referendum in Crimea] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904193326/https://www.unian.info/politics/2212414-sobchak-stands-for-new-referendum-in-crimea.html |date=4 September 2021 }}, [[UNIAN]], 27 October 2017</ref> In December 2017, Sobchak claimed that an unconditional withdrawal of Russia from Crimea would lead to a [[civil war]] in Russia.<ref>[https://www.unian.info/politics/2309531-sobchak-says-civil-war-to-start-in-russia-if-crimea-returned-to-ukraine.html Sobchak says civil war to start in Russia if Crimea returned to Ukraine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227182447/https://www.unian.info/politics/2309531-sobchak-says-civil-war-to-start-in-russia-if-crimea-returned-to-ukraine.html |date=27 December 2017 }}, [[UNIAN]] 20 December 2017</ref>

=== Other views ===
Sobchak has said that if she becomes president, she will remove the body of [[Vladimir Lenin]] from [[Red Square]], since, in her opinion, this is an indicator of a "medieval way of life in the country... so the corpse of Lenin must be removed from Red Square."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://tass.ru/politika/4683621 |title=Ксения Собчак предложила убрать тело Ленина с Красной площади |trans-title=Ksenia Sobchak suggested removing the body of Lenin from the Red Square |date=27 October 2017 |work=TASS |access-date=27 October 2017 |archive-date=27 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227213115/http://tass.ru/politika/4683621 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In her interview discussion with [[Julia Volkova]] in 2021 Sobchak voiced her support for [[LGBT rights in Russia]], stating that she disagrees with the country's controversial "gay propaganda law".<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/b-lvHKc8_9k Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210608085916/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-lvHKc8_9k Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-lvHKc8_9k |title=ТАТУ: 20 лет спустя! Главная российская группа в мире |website=[[YouTube]]|date=8 June 2021 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> On 24 February 2022 Sobchak voiced opposition to the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]], writing that "We the Russians will be dealing with the consequences of today for many more years".<ref>{{cite web |title=Russian celebrities, public figures speak out against Ukraine War |website=The Barents Observer |date=24 February 2022 |url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2022/02/russian-celebrities-public-figures-speak-out-against-ukraine-war |access-date=24 February 2022 |archive-date=24 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224182545/https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2022/02/russian-celebrities-public-figures-speak-out-against-ukraine-war |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life==
On 1 February 2013 Sobchak married {{ill|Maksim Emmanuilovich Vitorgan|ru|Виторган, Максим Эммануилович}} (born 10 September 1972 in Moscow, RSFSR, USSR). He is an actor, known for ''Möbius'' (2013), ''Bite the Dust'' (2013) and ''Dreamfish'' (2016).<ref name="Z-news.link-2017">{{cite web |url=http://z-news.link/ksenia-sobchak-thanked-her-father-for-the-family-happiness/ |title=Ksenia Sobchak thanked her father for the family happiness |publisher=Z-news.link |date=31 January 2017 |access-date=22 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030040740/http://z-news.link/ksenia-sobchak-thanked-her-father-for-the-family-happiness/ |archive-date=30 October 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Together they have a son named Platon, born 18 November 2016.<ref name="Z-news.link-2017"/> They divorced in 2018. Sobchak married theatre director [[Konstantin Bogomolov]] on 13 September 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://viva.ua/news/10948-kseniya-sobchak-i-konstantin-bogomolov-obvenchayutsya-zhurnalistka-podtverdila-svoyu-svadbu |script-title=ru:Ксения Собчак и Константин Богомолов Oбвенчаются: Журналистка Подтвердила Свою Свадьбу |trans-title=Ksenia Sobchak and Konstantin Bogomolov Get Married: The Journalist Has Confirmed Her Wedding |website=Viva.ua |last=Barna |first=Natalia |date=12 September 2019 |access-date=7 October 2019 |language=ru |archive-date=15 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215003714/https://viva.ua/news/10948-kseniya-sobchak-i-konstantin-bogomolov-obvenchayutsya-zhurnalistka-podtverdila-svoyu-svadbu |url-status=live }}</ref>
They arrived to their wedding ceremony in a hearse.<ref>[https://iz.ru/921096/2019-09-13/sobchak-i-bogomolov-priekhali-v-zags-na-katafalke Собчак и Богомолов приехали в ЗАГС на катафалке] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127121506/https://iz.ru/921096/2019-09-13/sobchak-i-bogomolov-priekhali-v-zags-na-katafalke |date=27 November 2021 }}, iz.ru, 13 September 2019</ref>

In 2015 Sobchak said that if there was ever the possibility of political persecution against her, she had thought about emigration or getting an [[Israel]]i passport, but would prefer the United States where she could find a Russian-speaking community:<ref name="Super-2015" />

{{bquote|I'm a very big patriot. I really love my job, the city, my friends. And if tomorrow is war, then the place for emigration will have to be a Russian-speaking place. I have to work in Russian.}}

In April 2022 she received Israeli citizenship.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/russian-tv-star-and-politician-ksenia-sobchak-receives-israeli-citizenship-1.10732642 |title=Russian TV Star and Politician Ksenia Sobchak Receives Israeli Citizenship|date=10 April 2022|work=Haaretz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801134348/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2022-04-10/ty-article/russian-tv-star-and-politician-ksenia-sobchak-receives-israeli-citizenship/00000180-5bb9-d615-a9bf-dff958310000|archive-date=1 August 2022}}</ref>

On 15 July 2023, [[TASS]] said that seven people were arrested in a connection with a plot to kill Sobchak and [[Margarita Simonyan]], the chief editor of RT.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/15/russia-says-foiled-assassination-attempts-on-top-media-figures|title=Russia says it foiled assassination attempts on top media figures|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=15 July 2023|archive-date=15 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715222114/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/15/russia-says-foiled-assassination-attempts-on-top-media-figures|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}<!--added above External links/Sources by script-assisted edit-->


==External links==
==External links==
{{Portal|Russia|Biography}}
{{Portal|Russia|Biography}}
{{Commons category|Kseniya Sobchak}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1789595,00.html The Guardian: ''She has a TV show and a Porsche. Now Moscow's Paris Hilton wants a party too'']
* [https://www.theguardian.com/international/story/0,,1789595,00.html The Guardian: ''She has a TV show and a Porsche. Now Moscow's Paris Hilton wants a party too'']
*[http://www.astronaut.ru/as_turst/as_turst.htm Candidates for Space Tourists]
* [http://www.astronaut.ru/as_turst/as_turst.htm Candidates for Space Tourists]

*[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/magazine/ksenia-sobchak-the-stiletto-in-putins-side.html Ksenia Sobchak, the Stiletto in Putin’s Side] July 3, 2012 [[New York Times]]
{{Candidates in the Russian presidential election, 2018}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Sobchak, Kseniya
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Russian television personality
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1981
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[St.Petersburg]], Russia
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sobchak, Kseniya}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sobchak, Kseniya}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Saint Petersburg]]
[[Category:Mass media people from Saint Petersburg]]
[[Category:Russian socialites]]
[[Category:Russian socialites]]
[[Category:Russian television personalities]]
[[Category:Russian television personalities]]
[[Category:Russian people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:Russian feminists]]
[[Category:Moscow State Institute of International Relations alumni]]
[[Category:Moscow State Institute of International Relations alumni]]
[[Category:Saint Petersburg State University alumni]]
[[Category:Saint Petersburg State University alumni]]
[[Category:Dozhd]]
[[Category:Russian people of Czech descent]]
[[Category:Russian people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:Russian people of Ukrainian descent]]
[[Category:Russian people of Jewish descent]]
[[Category:TV Rain]]
[[Category:2011–2013 Russian protests]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2018 Russian presidential election]]
[[Category:Female candidates for President of Russia]]
[[Category:Russian actor-politicians]]
[[Category:Jewish Russian actors]]
[[Category:21st-century Russian women politicians]]
[[Category:Russian women television personalities]]

Latest revision as of 00:29, 22 October 2024

Ksenia Sobchak
Ксения Собчак
Sobchak in 2018
Born
Ksenia Anatolyevna Sobchak

(1981-11-05) 5 November 1981 (age 43)
Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Education
Occupations
  • Journalist
  • TV anchor
  • public figure
Political party
Spouses
  • (m. 2013; div. 2018)
  • (m. 2019)
Children1
Parents
Signature

Ksenia Anatolyevna Sobchak[a] (Russian: Ксения Анатольевна Собчак, IPA: ['ksʲenʲɪjə ɐnɐ'tolʲjɪvnə sɐpˈt͜ɕak]; born 5 November 1981) is a Russian-Israeli public figure, TV anchor, journalist, socialite and actress. She is the younger daughter of the first democratically elected mayor of Saint Petersburg, Anatoly Sobchak, who was one of Vladimir Putin's mentors, and the Russian senator Lyudmila Narusova. Sobchak became known to the wider public as the host of the reality show Dom-2, which aired on the Russian channel TNT. Later she became an anchor at independent television channel TV Rain. As of January 2023, she hosts the television show Dok-Tok with Alexander Gordon.

Sobchak was the Civic Initiative's candidate for the 2018 Russian presidential election.

Early life and education

[edit]

Sobchak is the second daughter of the first democratically elected mayor of Saint Petersburg Anatoly Sobchak and Lyudmila Narusova, a Russian politician. Sobchak has described herself as being of part Jewish heritage.[1] Sobchak also revealed that she and her family experienced anti-Semitism.[1]

As a child, Sobchak attended the ballet school attached to the Mariinsky Theatre. She also attended the Hermitage Museum art school. In 1998, Sobchak left the school attached to Herzen University, and enrolled at the Saint Petersburg State University (Department of International Relations).[2] In 2001, Sobchak moved to Moscow and enrolled in the International Relations program at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.[3]

Entertainment career

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Sobchak in 2010, before involvement in politics

Sobchak became famous in 2004, as a host of the reality show Dom-2. She left the show in 2012, because the show's lowbrow orientation became incongruent with her political activism.[4]

From 2008 to 2010, Sobchak was a host of the reality shows Who does NOT want to be a millionaire?,[5] Last Hero-6,[6] and Sweet life of a blonde, Muz-TV Awards, and Two stars.

In 2010, Sobchak became a host of the TV program Freedom of Thought on the state-run Channel 5. She soon left the program, since, according to her, it turned into a never-ending discussion of public utilities maintenance.

Since 2011, Sobchak has hosted the program Sobchak Live on the independent channel TV Rain and Top Model po-russki on Muz-TV.

In 2012, she appeared in the television series Brief Guide To A Happy Life.

On 7 September 2012, MTV Russia launched a talk-show GosDep (State Department) with Ksenia Sobchak. The show aimed to cover hot social and political issues. The first episode of the show, titled "Where is Putin leading us?" featured interviews with the head of Left Front Sergei Udaltsov, member of "Solidarnost" (Solidarity) movement Ilya Yashin, and eco-activist Yevgeniya Chirikova.[7] The show was cancelled after one episode. The second episode would have included an interview with anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny. MTV Russia representatives said the show was cancelled because of the lack of interest in politics among the channel's audience.[8]

As of January 2023, she hosts the television show Dok-Tok with Alexander Gordon.[9]

Film

[edit]

Sobchak acted in the comedies Hitler Goes Kaput!, Rzhevsky Versus Napoleon, The Best Movie and Entropiya. Sobchak also acted in the film Thieves and Prostitutes.[10]

Music

[edit]

In 2007, Sobchak recorded the song 'Dance with me (Потанцуй со мной)' with Russian rapper Timati, as well as a music video. Russian media at the time attributed a relationship between Sobchak and Timati.[11]

Annual income

[edit]

According to Forbes Magazine, in 2021 Sobchak was the 7th highest paid celebrity in Russia.[12] She has been ranked as high as #4 (2010) and as low as #15 (2016) of Russian celebrities. Her income in 2017 was around US$2.1 million. The main source of this annual revenue is from advertising contracts.[13]

Euroset

[edit]

It was reported that Sobchak sold her ownership stake in Euroset for $2.3 million in December 2012.[14]

Other

[edit]

Around the time of her interview of Valērijs Kargins in Riga, she and Oksana Robski (Russian: Оксана Робски) released the perfume Married to a Millionaire (Russian: "Zамуж за миллионера").[15]

On 28 December 2008, Sobchak was on an Aeroflot flight from Moscow to New York City when she and other passengers determined that the pilot was drunk prior to take-off. Sobchak phoned Aeroflot who replaced the flight deck crew.[16]

In 2009, Russia's Tatler magazine included her in a list of most desirable single women in the country. The list was based on women's fortune and celebrity status. She is known across Russia as a socialite, TV host and presenter. Sobchak was Russia's No.1 "it girl", an analogue to Paris Hilton.[17]

Political background and activities

[edit]

Background

[edit]
Lyudmila Putina, Vladimir Putin, Lyudmila Narusova and Ksenia Sobchak (left to right) at the funeral of her father and Putin's former mentor,[18] Anatoly Sobchak in 2000

Sobchak's father, Anatoly, had been both Vladimir Putin's and Dmitry Medvedev's law professor at Leningrad State University. He built a close relationship with Putin, in particular, and in 1991 Anatoly helped launch Putin's career in politics when he was the mayor of Saint Petersburg. Putin then helped Anatoly flee Russia when he was wanted on corruption charges.[19] According to the Moscow News, "Putin's reported affection for the Sobchak family is widely believed to give Ksenia Sobchak a protected status, which may also explain her boldness", such as her encounter in October 2011 with Vasily Yakemenko, the controversial leader of the pro-Kremlin Nashi youth movement, when she reprimanded him for eating at an expensive restaurant in Moscow and published a video of the encounter on the internet.[19]

"Everyone is Free!"

[edit]

At the end of March 2006, Sobchak rented a two-story mansion at 16 Arbat Street and convened a press conference to announce the creation of the youth movement "Everyone is Free!" According to the TV presenter, she was prompted to take this step by numerous letters in which fans of her work in Dom-2 shared their problems and experiences. Sobchak felt that political positions and opposition served only as a pretext for realizing her ambitions and declared her movement non-political, aimed at providing help and support to young people. Sobchak promised to provide funding for "Everyone is Free!" from her personal funds. The rented building on Arbat was hastily renovated and decorated in the movement's "signature" color of blue denim; it housed the movement's headquarters and a reception area for those wishing to join.[20] The Izvestia newspaper conducted an online survey in which, after the press conference, users were asked about their desire to join Sobchak's movement. The results showed a lack of enthusiasm: of 2,133 respondents, only 6% expressed a desire to join for political reasons or sympathy for the leader, and 38% admitted that they did not know who Ksenia Sobchak was. After the first press conference, Sobchak stopped communicating with journalists for a month. On 7 July, she avoided participating in a debate with the leader of the youth branch of the Rodina party, Sergey Shargunov, at the Club on Brestskaya, which caused dissatisfaction among the youth politicians and journalists who attended the event.[21]

On 12 June, "Everyone is Free!" declared itself with a street action dedicated to improving the square around the monument to Sergei Yesenin on Tverskoy Boulevard. Participants in the movement collected garbage, painted benches and playgrounds on the boulevard, and Sobchak herself, in the presence of journalists and onlookers, wiped off a yellow bikini with a red heart drawn by an unknown vandal from the crotch of the Yesenin monument. According to local residents, on the morning of that day, there was no paint on the monument, and it appeared only before the event. The action ended with a small concert and fashion show on a stage near the monument.[22] In early July, a "club day" was held at the movement's headquarters. Sobchak made policy statements and issued club cards to the most active participants, providing free access to nightclubs, discounts, and other privileges. During the meeting, Sobchak presented a presentation on the goals and moral guidelines of the movement, in which two slides were occupied by the declared sponsors: Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Russian Standard Bank, the Renaissance Capital investment bank, Lukoil, MegaFon, the Bilingua cafe-club, and other companies. "Club day" ended with a debate between writers Oksana Robski and Sergey Minaev.[23]

At first, the movement was the cause of gossip in the political environment: experts and young politicians tried to understand Sobchak's motivations. Political scientist and contemporary art collector Marat Gelman suggested that Sobchak could have set her sights on a political career in United Russia and was gathering her supporters ahead of the 2007 Russian legislative election. The head of Yabloko Youth, Ilya Yashin, doubted Sobchak's independence and shared with journalists his opinion that "Everyone is Free!" could have been created to criticize the opposition with the approval of the Presidential Administration. The leader of the pro-Kremlin Nashi movement, Vasily Yakemenko, doubted the Kremlin's involvement in the creation of the "Everyone is Free!" movement: in his opinion, Sobchak could both be useful to the Presidential Administration and discredit the Russian authorities.[24] Subsequently, the movement ceased any activity, and journalists mentioned Sobchak as the head of "Everyone is Free!" only once - in the context of discussing the elections to the Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg of the fourth convocation, which it considered fictitious, and the construction of the Okhta Center skyscraper for Gazprom on the right bank of the Neva opposite the Smolny Cathedral.[25][26]

Russian presidential election, 2018

[edit]
Sobchak 2018 logo
Sobchak during the presidential election campaign

In September 2017, prior to her announcement to run, Putin said of Sobchak's presidential intentions to a press conference at the 9th BRICS summit, that "Every person has the right to nominate himself in accordance with the law. And Ksenia Sobchak is not an exception here. I respect her father Anatoly Sobchak, I believe that he was an outstanding figure in contemporary Russian history. I'm saying this without a trace of irony. He was very decent, played a big role in my own destiny. But when it comes to running for presidency, things of a personal nature cannot play any significant role. It depends on what program she's offering, if she'll actually run, and how she'll build her presidential campaign".[27]

Sobchak declared her candidacy in the Russian presidential election 2018 on 18 October 2017.[28] Prior to the announcement of her intention to enter the Presidential race in 2018, Sobchak discussed her intention personally with Putin. She said: "With Vladimir Vladimirovich, my family has been associated with a great deal... so I felt it right to say that I made such a decision". Putin, she said, told her that "every person has the right to make their own decisions and must be responsible for them".[29]

Sobchak was the Civic Initiative's candidate for the 2018 Russian presidential election.[30]

Some skeptics accused Sobchak of being a spoiler to undermine Alexei Navalny; every recent election for the presidency has featured a prominent liberal candidate handpicked by the Kremlin. Other skeptics suspect Sobchak's candidacy is mostly about building her brand. Sobchak did not believe she could win against Putin in 2018, but has stated she's in it for the long haul: "Of course I want to be president, I want to win, but I also want to be sincere. In a system created by Putin, it is only possible for Putin to win. I am realistic about who will become the president."[31]

On 15 March 2018, Sobchak and Dmitry Gudkov announced the creation of a new party, called the Party of Changes on the basis of the party Civic Initiative.[32][33] The aim was of party was to "return our freedom and your freedom".[34] Sobchak won 1.68% of the vote in the 2018 presidential election.[35]

Flight from Russia

[edit]

On 26 October 2022, Russian media reported that Sobchak would be detained as part of an investigation into the alleged extortion of 11 million rubles from the head of Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, by Sobchak's director Kirill Sukhanov. Lithuanian authorities confirmed that Sobchak had entered Lithuania and was entitled to stay for 90 days without a visa because she was an Israeli citizen.[36] The raid came after the arrest of Kirill Sukhanov, a commercial director at Sobchak's media group, "Ostorozhno, Media", for alleged extortion, with Sobchak reportedly being a suspect in the case.[37] Lithuanian border officials said that Sobchak had arrived on an Israeli passport, while Sobchak called the case an attack on her editorial team.[38][39][40] Then, days after she fled the country, she returned to Russia, according to state media.[41]

Political views

[edit]
Sobchak at a demonstration in Moscow in May 2012

In 2012, Sobchak was critical of Putin's political policies. Although she stated that she had "happily" voted for Putin when she was younger, she would not do so any longer. In the 2012 Russian presidential election, Sobchak says she voted for Mikhail Prokhorov.[42]

After the parliament elections held on 4 December 2011, which are known for the large number of alleged fraud reports, Sobchak joined the protest rallies held in Russia as a response to the alleged electoral frauds.[43] She also took part in the campaign against Putin's re-election, working as an observer during the president elections held on 4 March 2012. She was one of the Russian protest participants targeted by the Investigative Committee of Russia on 12 June 2012, when her apartment in Moscow was entered and searched.[44]

Economic views

[edit]

Outlining her economic views, she writes:

Russia is a country of a free economy with a strong state sector. All large state corporations should be privatized with antitrust restrictions. The state should not control any sectors of the economy, the state's share in enterprises and industries should be limited to breaking up monopolies. Private property should be protected by law, the review of any ownership and nationalization are possible only on a reimbursable basis on the basis of independent market valuations. Reform of tax and regulatory legislation and practices should stimulate the development of private entrepreneurship, small and medium-sized businesses, technological and innovative development of enterprises, education. The list of licensed branches of the economy should be significantly reduced.[45][non-primary source needed]

Views on feminism

[edit]

In her 2017 manifesto, she criticised the lack of women's representation in industry and politics.

Almost 500 heavy professions in Russia are officially closed to women. But among all the others – the salary of a woman is almost 30% less than that of a man. Among the most important companies in the country, women head only about 5%. ... In any case, half the country's population deserves a female voice for the first time in 14 years in these allegedly male games.[45][non-primary source needed]

On the status of Crimea

[edit]

Ksenia Sobchak is of the opinion that, having annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, Russia violated the 1994 Budapest Memorandum; she claimed on 24 October 2017 that "Under these agreements, we agreed that Crimea is Ukrainian, which is the most important for me". Sobchak stressed that she did not consider the issue with Crimea resolved. "I believe that these things need to be discussed, it is very important to discuss them ... look for some ways out."[46][47] She also added that "the most important thing that Russia and Ukraine should do now is to restore our friendship at any cost."[46] Simultaneously she suggested to hold a new referendum on the status of Crimea after "a broad and equal campaign."[48] In December 2017, Sobchak claimed that an unconditional withdrawal of Russia from Crimea would lead to a civil war in Russia.[49]

Other views

[edit]

Sobchak has said that if she becomes president, she will remove the body of Vladimir Lenin from Red Square, since, in her opinion, this is an indicator of a "medieval way of life in the country... so the corpse of Lenin must be removed from Red Square."[50]

In her interview discussion with Julia Volkova in 2021 Sobchak voiced her support for LGBT rights in Russia, stating that she disagrees with the country's controversial "gay propaganda law".[51] On 24 February 2022 Sobchak voiced opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, writing that "We the Russians will be dealing with the consequences of today for many more years".[52]

Personal life

[edit]

On 1 February 2013 Sobchak married Maksim Emmanuilovich Vitorgan [ru] (born 10 September 1972 in Moscow, RSFSR, USSR). He is an actor, known for Möbius (2013), Bite the Dust (2013) and Dreamfish (2016).[53] Together they have a son named Platon, born 18 November 2016.[53] They divorced in 2018. Sobchak married theatre director Konstantin Bogomolov on 13 September 2019.[54] They arrived to their wedding ceremony in a hearse.[55]

In 2015 Sobchak said that if there was ever the possibility of political persecution against her, she had thought about emigration or getting an Israeli passport, but would prefer the United States where she could find a Russian-speaking community:[42]

I'm a very big patriot. I really love my job, the city, my friends. And if tomorrow is war, then the place for emigration will have to be a Russian-speaking place. I have to work in Russian.

In April 2022 she received Israeli citizenship.[56]

On 15 July 2023, TASS said that seven people were arrested in a connection with a plot to kill Sobchak and Margarita Simonyan, the chief editor of RT.[57]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Also romanized as Kseniya

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Balakhcheyeva, Elmira (14 May 2013). "Ксения Собчак обнажила свои еврейские корни" [Ksenia Sobchak reveals her Jewish roots]. Express Gazeta (in Russian). Archived from the original on 29 May 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Meet 'Russia's Paris Hilton' Ksenia Sobchak, the 36-year-old socialite challenging Putin for the Russian presidency". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Ksenia Sobchak, Russia's Star Presidential Candidate, Will Be Heard". Archived from the original on 25 August 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Sobchak Quits 'Dom 2'". Themoscowtimes.com. 1 July 2012. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  5. ^ "кто не хочет стать миллионером онлайн" [who doesn't want to become a millionaire online]. Nomillion.narod.ru. Archived from the original on 23 June 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  6. ^ "СМОТРИТЕ КРУГЛОСУТОЧНЫЙ КАНАЛ "ПОСЛЕДНИЙ ГЕРОЙ"" [WATCH THE LAST HERO 24/7 CHANNEL]. Archived from the original on 21 August 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  7. ^ "MTV объясняет появление "Госдепа с Ксенией Собчак" запросом аудитории - РИА Новости" [MTV explains the appearance of the "State Department with Ksenia Sobchak" by the request of the audience - RIA Novosti]. Ria.ru. 8 February 2012. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Телеканал MTV приостановил ток-шоу "Госдеп с Ксенией Собчак" - РИА Новости" [MTV channel suspended talk show "State Department with Ksenia Sobchak" - RIA Novosti]. Ria.ru. 14 February 2012. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Док-ток. Первый канал". 1tv.ru. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Kseniya Sobchak - Biography". Internet Movie Database. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2009.
  11. ^ Coбчɑĸ ϲoбρɑлɑϲь нɑ ʙыбoρы бeɜ пoлuтuчeϲĸoй пρoгρɑммы Archived 4 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine (tr. "General selection of candidates without a policy program ") Соломия КомароваПн, 23 October 2017
  12. ^ "Ксения Собчак" [Ksenia Sobchak]. Forbes.ru (in Russian). 2022. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Ксения Собчак" [Ksenia Sobchak]. Forbes.ru (in Russian). 2018. Archived from the original on 17 January 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2022.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ^ Mass media: K.Sobchak broke up with I.Yashin Archived 31 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine SOCIETY, 10 December 2012 16:49
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