Russian MP’s iPhone 17 Pro Max sparks outrage after anti-luxury rants

A lawmaker who called iPhones ‘unnecessary’ is now under fire for using the priciest model. Did his parenting advice just backfire spectacularly?

, and Administrator

2025 December 29 . 12:27 PM

1 min read

Here we can see a kid with a mobile phone in his hand and there are mobile phones placed on the... — Here we can see a kid with a mobile phone in his hand and there are mobile phones placed on the table in front of him and behind him we can see a doll and there are chairs present and there are boxes present here and there are Windows present

Russian MP’s iPhone 17 Pro Max sparks outrage after anti-luxury rants

Russian MP Vitaly Milonov has faced criticism after being seen with a brand-new iPhone 17 Pro Max in October 2025. This comes despite his repeated public statements urging parents to discourage children from wanting expensive smartphones. He previously called the iPhone a product 'for suckers and losers' and insisted it was unnecessary for young people.

Milonov has long argued that children should not prioritise high-end devices. He claimed a 'normal child' could easily understand that costly gadgets are not essential. In past interviews, he described the iPhone as 'just for show-offs' and lacking real functionality.

His advice extended to parenting, suggesting that children often copy their parents’ habits. If adults avoided chasing the latest phone models, he believed, younger generations would follow suit. However, in October 2025, Milonov was photographed with the latest iPhone 17 Pro Max. The device, not yet officially released at the time, retails in Belarus for around 4,300 rubles (roughly €1,250). No records confirm any Russian State Duma deputy purchasing the model there, despite his public stance against such luxury items for children.

The incident has drawn attention to the contrast between Milonov’s personal choices and his public statements. His criticism of expensive smartphones now faces scrutiny after he was seen using one himself. The iPhone 17 Pro Max remains a high-end product, priced well beyond what many families can afford.