Russian streamer Stepan Scoffy detained after desecrating flag for $12 donation
Streamer Stepan Scoffy was detained live on air after tearing down a Russian flag bearing President Putin’s image in exchange for a 1,000-ruble donation.
The 28-year-old, who has over 200,000 followers on Twitch and 2,000 on YouTube and broadcasts from Kudrovo in the Leningrad region, removed the flag from his wall, crumpled it, and tossed it aside, saying, “F**k this flag.”
The clip, which quickly spread across social media, drew sharp backlash. One viewer urged Scoffy to delete the stream, to which he responded dismissively, stating he did not care who might come for him.
Scoffy later issued an apology, saying, “Sorry to anyone I offended,” and claimed the footage was taken out of context. However, the next day, during another stream where he performed donation-based challenges in a playground, law enforcement officers tackled him from behind and detained him on camera.
Russian media outlets report that Scoffy could face criminal charges under laws against desecrating state symbols, which carry a penalty of up to one year in prison. Authorities also cited hooliganism in connection with the incident.
The incident has sparked debate online, highlighting the legal risks faced by content creators in Russia who challenge national symbols or leadership imagery in broadcasts.