A shocking case of child abuse in Russia has sparked international outrage after a couple forcibly tattooed their 1-year-old baby as part of an online competition.
According to The Sun, the couple filmed themselves holding down their crying infant while a tattoo artist etched the phrase “Mellstroy-Game” onto the baby’s arm.
The inscription refers to Mellstroy, a controversial Belarusian streamer with more than 7.6 million followers, who reportedly launched a marketing contest promising a £45,500 (₩87 million / $55,000 USD) apartment to the participant who promoted his casino project in the most “creative” way.
In the disturbing footage, the baby can be heard screaming in pain while the father restrains the child’s arm. The mother, appearing calm, explains that they decided to tattoo their infant to “surprise Mellstroy” and win the contest prize.
“We’re drowning in debt and can’t afford an apartment,” she said in the clip. “We really want to win this contest.”
The video quickly spread across social media, sparking public outrage across Russia and beyond. Viewers described it as “pure horror” and “one of the most disturbing examples of online culture gone wrong.”
Ekaterina Mizulina, head of Russia’s Safe Internet League, condemned the act and urged authorities to launch an immediate investigation.
“The child is clearly crying in pain. Whether the tattoo is real or not, the very act of producing such a video constitutes child abuse,” Mizulina said. “This case exposes how desperate people can be manipulated by toxic online trends.”
As of now, Russian authorities have begun reviewing the footage to verify the authenticity of the tattoo and identify the individuals involved.
Sources: The Sun,Newsis