Deniers profiting from pandemic, supermarket stunts: Inside Melbourne’s COVID-19 craziness

Deniers profiting from ‘virus-warding’ crystals and supermarket stunts: bizarre behaviour continues in Victoria.

Fanos Panayides, Inessa Zorkina and Raphael Fernandez, 99% Unite members.

A Melbourne woman has filmed herself refusing to wear a mask inside a Woolworths store because she is a “free person”.

Inessa Zorkina posted several videos to a Facebook page belonging to coronavirus denier group 99% Unite on Wednesday night.

In one of the videos, a Victoria Police officer tells Ms Zorkina they’ve been called because staff members observed her without a mask.

Ms Zorkina replied: “I have rights, I have freedom.”

When Ms Zorkina was asked why she refused to wear a mask, she replied: “Because I am a free person and because I can do it and law doesn’t say I must wear a mask … I have freedom.”

Ms Zorkina, who says she is a single mother in the video, said the police officer jumped on her “like an animal” and hurt her hand.

“When it’s a real criminal you do nothing but when it’s a single mum, he jump (sic) on me like an animal,” she said.

“He doesn’t have rights to do it … even when I said I still have ID he still wanted to arrest me.”

The Victorian government made face masks mandatory from July 23 in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Failing to wear a mask while outside carries a $200 fine.

Ms Zorkina and Victoria Police have been contacted for comment.

Deniers positive about profiting

Coronavirus deniers are trying to make a profit out of the ­pandemic, selling crystals as ­protection against 5G radiation as well as pushing branded ­merchandise.

The Australian can also reveal that 99% Unite is pushing a distressing theory that the families of deceased coronavirus victims are lying about the cause of death of their loved ones in exchange for money from the Victorian government.

It comes as viral conspiracy theorist Eve Black was arrested in dramatic scenes on Wed­nesday after she refused to co-operate with Victoria Police over a July 23 incident in which she filmed herself passing through a lockdown zone checkpoint.

Co-leader of 99% Unite Raphael Fernandez is selling Shungite, a black crystal, to ward off EMF, which conspiracy theorists believe is emitted by 5G towers and can cause symptoms of the coronavirus.

“This amazingly powerful rock is a tool for 5G/ Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth/ EMF protection, physical healing and work performance,” the cryptocurrency enthusiast said in a Facebook post.

Screengrab of 99% Unite leaders Facebook page Raphael Fernandez. Picture: Supplied

Mr Fernandez is selling a Shungite bracelet for $99 while a 10cm polished sphere with stand costs $119. As of Wednesday afternoon, he had sold out.

In a video, Mr Fernandez also spruiks clothing bearing the insignia of his Beliachi University brand, which is a “Cryptocurrency Trading and Personal Development Community”.

He said 10 per cent of all profits would go to the 99% Unite movement, potentially to help pay fines incurred for demonstrating against public health measures introduced to stop the spread of COVID-19. 

“Go treat yourself for being part of an awesome movement and also to protect yourself,” he said. “I see these as investments and I really hope they provide you with the protection you need and that it positively impacts your life.”

99% Unite follows a confusing tangle of dangerous theories, believing the coronavirus pandemic is a hoax by a shadowy network of global elites while simultaneously chalking up symptoms of COVID-19 to radiation emitted by 5G towers.

Screengrab 99% Unite leaders Facebook page Raphael Fernandez. Picture: Supplied

In a video with fellow Melbourne-based leader of 99% Unite Fanos Panayides, Mr Fernandez said authorities put the death of someone he knew down as COVID when the man had never been tested.

“All of this, it’s going to come under … COVID when really it’s the towers and then they can go and jab you with the vaccine to make you even worse,” he said in the Facebook video.

Facebook accounts belonging to Mr Panayides have been taken down but he remains ­active on Instagram and YouTube while appearing regularly in livestreamed videos on Mr Fernandez’s page.

In Mr Fernandez’s video, Mr Panayides claimed there was a scheme in which families accepted money in exchange for saying their loved ones died because of the coronavirus. 

Facebook removed several of 99% Unite’s Facebook pages, the largest of which had more than 65,000 followers, following a ­report by The Australian.

At least two remain active.

Mr Fernandez did not respond to The Australian’s request for comment before deadline.