Image Credit: Spletnik
Russian businessman Konstantin Malofeev, owner of the Tsargrad TV channel, married Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights, on September 8, according to reports by Vorstka and Baza. The wedding, attended by over 100 guests, took place in the upscale village of Deauville near Moscow, a location known for its luxurious wedding venues. Guests at the ceremony shared photos and videos of the event on social media, with some images revealing views of the Villa Rotonda restaurant, which is considered one of the most expensive wedding spots in the Moscow region.
Sources revealed that notable Russian artists, including Leonid Agutin, Grigory Leps, Dima Bilan, and Valeria, performed at the wedding. Despite his previously held anti-war stance, Agutin’s performance at the event attracted attention. According to Baza, the organizers restricted Bilan from singing several of his popular songs, including “You Are Not My Match,” “Lightning,” and “Night Hooligan.” The event reportedly cost Malofeev several tens of millions of rubles, with about half of the budget allocated to artists’ fees.
The marriage comes amid ongoing controversies surrounding both Malofeev and Lvova-Belova. Malofeev, known as an advocate of ultra-conservative views and a supporter of the “Russian world,” has been linked to financing pro-Russian forces during the annexation of Crimea and the 2014 conflict in Donbass. He is currently under U.S. sanctions. Lvova-Belova, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been accused of transporting Ukrainian orphans to Russia since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Rumors of a romantic relationship between Malofeev and Lvova-Belova had surfaced earlier this year, following a religious procession in Yekaterinburg where the two were seen together. The couple’s union comes shortly after Malofeev’s divorce in 2023 and amid unconfirmed reports regarding the dissolution of Lvova-Belova’s marriage to priest Pavel Kogelmanov.