Ukrainian model claims she was forced to pose for nude Dubai photo
One of the models involved in the Dubai naked balcony saga has claimed she was forced to take part in the nude shoot.
Irina Sotulenko’s solicitor Oleksiy Nosov and boyfriend
Vitaly have said they are deeply concerned for the 23-year-old Ukrainian model.
They haven’t had contact with Ms Sotulenko and she is among
a group of women being detained in the United Arab Emirates after taking part
in the nude photo shoot on April 3.
At least 40 women are in custody and initially faced up to
six months in jail for taking part in the “lewd” photo shoot.
However, the women are now expected to be deported back to
Ukraine on Monday, local time after Ukrainian authorities reached an agreement
with the UAE.
Ms Sotulenko complained about the photo shoot’s “idiot”
organiser Vitaly Grechin, who allowed the images to be posted online, in audio
and video messages.
In the messages, sent to her boyfriend before she and the
group were detained, Ms Sotulenko also claimed she was forced to take part or
risk not being paid.
“I told them, ‘Guys, we are in Arab country, let’s not show
off’,” she allegedly said.
“But, damn, we were forced to this balcony, took pictures
and God knows what will be next.”
Ms Sotulenko’s boyfriend, who gave his name only as Vitaly,
said that while his girlfriend had known the Dubai assignment involved a nude
photo shoot she did not know it would be in a public place.
He claims Ms Sotulenko and the other models had been
“pushed” onto the balcony.
“The girls began to be indignant, and asking why they were
going there,” Vitaly said.
“They said: ‘This is a Muslim country, for this we will all
have problems.’ But they were told, ‘Do not forget who pays for it, please go
to the balcony.’
“So they went out onto the balcony and (he) photographed
them.”
Vitaly said some of the models had “immediately” left the
UAE when they discovered images and video from the shoot were online.
But Ms Sotulenko and others who stayed behind were told they
could leave once they went to the police to make a statement.
“(The models were told) police will interrogate you and
release you,” Vitaly said.
“It turned out that they were a little deceived. Everyone
who returned was taken to prison.”
Ms Sotulenko’s solicitor Mr Nosov said that one of the girls
being detained in Dubai has tested positive for COVID-19.
“The Consulate reported that one of the girls fell ill with
coronavirus, she is kept separately, and this is not Irina,” he said.
“The conditions in the cell are difficult.
“They are in a cell without telephones, and are not told the
date of their deportation to Ukraine.”
Videos and photos showed the women posing nude on a balcony
in Dubai’s upscale Marina neighbourhood.
Dubai police then arrested a “group of people who appeared
in an indecent video” on charges of public debauchery.
“Such unacceptable behaviours do not reflect the values and
ethics of Emirati society,” police said in a statement.
In the UAE there is strict rules around nudity, with the
county’s major telecom companies blocking access to porn websites, while
kissing or having sex in a public place is also forbidden and punishable with
fines or jail time.
Meanwhile, Mr Grechin is believed to be in custody and could
face one and a half years in jail for being the organiser of the shoot.
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