The video, which attracted the attention of the antimonopoly service, appeared on Morgenstern's Youtube channel on November 27 and has gained more than 20 million views to date.
According to the FAS, Peopletalk reports , the video violates several provisions of the law "On Advertising". Among the claims are drinking alcoholic beverages and showing the middle finger, "which is a well-known indecent and offensive gesture." The image of the female employees, which the musician uses, is “defiant and obscene”: they wear “overly revealing” necklines through which “underwear is visible”. In addition, according to the FAS, "MORGENSHTERN's actions to use a naked part of a girl's body as a payment terminal to simulate payment by a bank card are humiliating for a woman, since a woman is identified with an object".
Alfa-Bank does not hide that the video turned out to be very effective: after it, the bank received more than 25 thousand applications from new clients. Nevertheless, the clip, according to the bank's representatives, is not an advertisement: it is the personal opinion of a blogger who has the right to have his own point of view. If the FAS nevertheless considers that the law "On Advertising" has indeed been violated, the bank will dispute this accusation in the usual manner. Until March 19, FAS requires the artist and the bank to submit written explanations “on the merits of the claims, and a court is scheduled for March 25.