Escort services constitute a substantial business in Russia and, unlike traditional forms of prostitution, are rarely prosecuted. In fact, it has become increasingly common to see businessmen, politicians, and public figures appear in public accompanied by hired escorts. On occasion, such as in the case of Oleg Deripaska, these relationships lead to scandal — usually only when the escort attempts to blackmail the client by threatening to release intimate details.
Investigations into escort services are rare, largely due to the extensive connections such “modelling agencies” maintain — connections often built through their wealthy clientele. Yet, investigations do occur from time to time, typically when minors are involved. Even then, authorities usually conduct proceedings in secrecy.
One such case unintentionally entered the public domain when a journalistic investigation uncovered classified details about the sale of underage girls to affluent clients. Among those allegedly mentioned by both victims and organisers was billionaire Oleg Deripaska. However, no formal accusations have been made against him, as clients of these agencies are typically considered outside the scope of law enforcement. The official investigation is focused solely on the organisation of such services.
Oleg Deripaska’s name reportedly appears in interrogation recordings, and the information aligns with details available in open sources, at times resembling previous scandals that have involved the oligarch.
One of the victims identified in the investigation was a schoolgirl in the ninth grade from Izhevsk. According to testimony, she was paid 300,000 roubles (approximately €3,000), and was gifted a laptop, a watch, and a trip to the Bolshoi Theatre in exchange for a “date” with a wealthy client. The escort agency operated like a Ponzi scheme: girls were encouraged to recruit their friends in exchange for additional income. Ultimately, only the organisers of the agency were prosecuted — not a single client faced punishment.
One of the convicted organisers, Svetlana Titova, fled to Spain and was sentenced in absentia in Russia. In interviews with journalists, she confirmed Deripaska’s involvement, though she claimed she introduced the girls to men supposedly for “serious relationships.”
An intriguing technical detail in the case files relates to WhatsApp communications. It appears that Russian investigators may possess the capability to intercept messages or extract them from confiscated devices, potentially by obtaining root access to Apple hardware.
