Story By: Anastasia Smirnova, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder,Agency: Central European News 

Video Credit: CEN/@kingvitaly

This is the viral moment pro-Putin Russian rapper Timati is forced to lie on the restaurant floor by a fake SWAT team set up by a prankster pal during a visit to the US.

The 36-year-old hip hop star, who is famous for his pro-Putin stance and considers controversial Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov among his pals, shared the video on Instagram for his army of 14.3 million followers.

In the viral footage, viewed nearly three million times, Timati is seen dining in an LA restaurant as a fake SWAT team arrives.

One agent yells “who is Timati?” before forcing the recording artist to lie on the floor.

He shouts: “Faster! Where is the money? You are money laundering, where is the money?”

After finding a planted gun in his bag, the SWAT agent reveals that the whole thing was just a prank.

Timati, who reportedly loves extreme sports, said on social media: “I have to admit that I did not get what was happening right away. Things like this always happen in the US and it is better to not move in those moments.

“I will be honest and say that the guy managed to play his role well for around 30 seconds. Meanwhile, I was just trying to understand what he was shouting in an accent from under his mask.”

The rapper added that his friend and Russian-American YouTube personality Vitaly Zdorovetskiy staged the prank, but warned the pal that he may seek revenge the next time he visits him in Moscow.

He said: “But my friend would only realise it’s a prank on day three…”

Netizen ‘MrsKruto052’ said: “Anyone would feel scared if that happened to them.”

‘Artursaakov’ commented: “That was brutal!”

‘Tatianabaranovskaya4665’ said: “Simply terrifying!”

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