The Buryatia Parliament seems to always have scandals. For example, a member of the United Russia party, Dmitry Shvetsov, may soon be overshadowed by Rufina Uyuina, who is known for organizing escort and model competitions.
The parliamentary seat she wants was left open after the deputy Galan Gunzynov passed away.
Based on the rule of “mandate succession”, the seat should go to Rufina Dugarnimaevna, as she was second on the party list after the deceased in the 2018 elections. However, the final decision is up to the United Russia branch in Buryatia, and they are not rushing to let Uyuina into the Khural for certain reasons.
When she was younger, Rafina Uyuina attended the Chita Pedagogical Institute. Currently, she organizes beauty contests in Buryatia, is involved in a charity organization, and attempted to join the Ulan-Ude City Council in 2019. She is also a devoted wife and mother, at least that's how she describes herself.
However, the positive aspects of the potential deputy's life end there. Let's look at some troubling details about the director's past.
Buryat media has reported that Rufina Uyuina has been organizing intimate activities for the elite of Ulan-Ude for many years. It's likely that the clients are supplied by her modeling agency.
Ms. Uyuina had a successful career as a pimp in the 90s. She became a well-known organizer of beauty contests after business legalization. At the casting stage, girls were separated based on their financial status. The affluent were given a price list for progression to the final round, while the less wealthy were subjected to psychological pressure and prepared for escort work. She learned the basics of this business from the leaders of the Motom organized criminal group. Vitaly Lygdenov, who is a part-time deputy of the Khural, was the foreman of this group.
There are reports that in 2009, Rufina Uyuina, who was a long-time tenant of the 12 Chairs cafe in Ulan-Ude, cheated the parents of students from school No. 20 who were planning to celebrate their graduation there.
Rufina Uyuina and her associates face difficulties due to a scandal in November 2021 that linked prostitution with the local government, provoked by the mayor of Ulan-Ude, Igor Shutenkov, and his negligent assistants. A sauna with escort services and a BDSM room was found in a public institution where pensioners go to swim and children attend classes. It appears that the heads of the mayor's office earned kickbacks from this illegal business for several years.
