Russia Jails Woman For Writing “No To War” On Ballot Paper During Elections

Moscow: A Russian woman was sentenced to eight days in jail for a distinctive act of protest during Russia’s presidential election. The woman, Alexandra Chiryatyeva had reportedly written “no to war” on her ballot paper in defiance of President Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine offensive.

The three-day election, culminating over the weekend, saw Putin securing another term uncontested, potentially extending his rule until 2030. However, amidst this victory, instances of ballot spoiling occurred, prompting Putin to caution against such actions in his victory address, stressing the consequences for those involved.

Following her protest, Chiryatyeva faced the judgment of Dzerzhinsky district court, which not only sentenced her to eight days in jail but also imposed a fine of 40,000 rubles (approx. ₹36,000). She was found guilty of hooliganism and tarnishing the reputation of the Russian armed forces.

According to the court’s statement, Chiryatyeva inscribed her message on the back of a voting ballot using a red marker before depositing it in the ballot box. This act, deemed damaging to state property and disparaging to the armed forces, was committed on the final day of the election, coinciding with opposition calls for protests against what they perceived as an inevitable victory for Putin.

The election itself drew criticism from Western nations and independent Russian election monitors, who characterized it as one of the most corrupt in the post-Soviet era.