September 04, 2020

Good Deed Punished


Good Deed Punished
Having gramatically incorrect ballots in this case would only add insult to injury. Yaromir Romanov, Znak.com

Sometimes doing the right thing can get you in trouble. That's what happened to 80-year-old Lyudmila Stolyarova, a pensioner in the town of Yeisk, who is faced with a fine for election fraud in Russia's constitutional referendum this past summer.

Stolayarova, a pensioner in that southern city of 88,000, was visited at her home by election commission officials on June 25, who offered to cast her vote for her. She accepted. A couple of days later, more officials stopped by with the same offer, but Stolyarova refused to open the door for them, as she'd effectively already cast her vote.

She then went to a polling place to double-check, to ensure her vote was counted. Seeing that she was not marked as having voted, she was handed a ballot, which she submitted.

Almost two months later, police called Stolyarova into the station and accused her of voter fraud. Her granddaughter says the allegation is bunk, as the tale highlights breaches in vote administration.

Regardless, on August 28, the court's ruling was handed down: a fine of 15,000 rubles, about $200. Which, on Russia's pension system, is pretty hefty.

Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Driving Down Russia's Spine

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 
Chekhov Bilingual

Chekhov Bilingual

Some of Chekhov's most beloved stories, with English and accented Russian on facing pages throughout. 
Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

This astonishingly gripping autobiography by the founder of the Russian Women’s Death Battallion in World War I is an eye-opening documentary of life before, during and after the Bolshevik Revolution.
Russian Rules

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.
Okudzhava Bilingual

Okudzhava Bilingual

Poems, songs and autobiographical sketches by Bulat Okudzhava, the king of the Russian bards. 
How Russia Got That Way

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.
The Latchkey Murders

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...
Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955