The most hated woman in Russia

Hello! Our focus this week is on a legal scandal that has gripped the headlines for weeks — and what it tells us about celebrity culture in Russia today.

Controversial court ruling triggers uproar against pro-Putin singer

Russia is ending the year with a massive domestic scandal surrounding singer Larisa Dolina, long-time Putin supporter. She sold her million-dollar luxury apartment, was scammed out of the proceeds and then won a court case to get the transaction annulled, leaving the buyers both without the property and 112 million rubles ($1.4 million) in the hole. The saga has left the singer completely out of tune with public opinion.