Multiple Russians arrested for pouring ink into ballot boxes, St. Petersburg woman throws Molotov cocktail at polling station

As Russians head to the polls on the first official day of the country’s presidential vote, people in various regions have begun pouring ink and dye into ballot boxes, presumably rendering the ballots inside unusable.

According to the Telegram channel Baza, a woman in Moscow poured green liquid into a ballot box while “shouting pro-Ukraine slogans.” Witnesses reportedly said that someone appeared to be “giving her instructions” over the phone.

The Moscow Investigative Committee has launched a felony case against the woman for obstructing the work of election officials.

Residents also reportedly poured green dye into ballot boxes at two precincts in the Voronezh regions. Police said that two people, ages 58 and 66, have been charged with felonies.

Similar stunts were reported in the Rostov region and Karachay-Cherkessia. “Ink was poured into ballot boxes in two subjects. It’s being done by both men and women. Clearly they’ve been promised money and rewards,” said Russian Central Election Commission deputy chair Nikolai Bulaev.

In St. Petersburg, a 21-year-old woman was reportedly arrested after throwing a Molotov cocktail onto the front steps of a school building that contained two polling stations. According to the outlet Fontanka, the woman told police that a “Ukrainian Telegram channel” promised to pay her for committing the act.

In the last two years, there have been numerous reports of online and telephone scams in which Russians are pressured into damaging infrastructure such as banks and military enlistment offices. The perpetrators are often talking on the phone while committing the act.