March 19, 2024

Election Rebellion: Paint It Green!


Election Rebellion: Paint It Green!
Ballots stained with green paint in Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast. Bloknot Voronezh, Telegram.

On March 15, Russia's 2024 presidential elections were opened to the public. But some voters voiced their displeasure by pouring bright green dye, known as zelyonka, and ink into ballot boxes. Protesters could face fines of up to R80,000 ($865) and up to five years in prison.

Security footage from a Moscow school shows a young woman pouring zelyonka into a ballot box. Allegedly, the woman then began screaming pro-Ukrainian slogans and talking with someone over the phone. Baza suspects the woman was acting under instructions. The investigative committee of Moscow announced it had opened a criminal case against a woman for impeding the electoral process.  

In Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast, there were two separate instances of residents staining ballots with green ink. In one instance, police stopped a woman, and the ballot boxes were sealed. Voronezh police confirmed they had opened criminal cases against two voters, aged 58 and 66.

Ink pourers were also reported in Azov, Rostov Oblast, and in Karachay-Cherkessia. The deputy chairman of the Central Election Commission, Nikolay Bulayev, claimed, "It is clear [the ink pourers] were promised money and rewards." Bulayev also called for strengthening security around ballot boxes.

Zelyonka holds a special place in Russian collective memory. This antiseptic with a characteristic bright green color was originally used to treat wounds. However it garnered a new meaning after Russian opposition leaders were attacked with zelyonka mixed with toxic substances. The late Aleksei Navalny was among the victims of these attacks. The anti-corruption activist notably embraced his green skin as a campaign strategy, with many Russians uploading pictures covered in grass-colored paint in solidarity.

The incumbent president and possible mastermind of the murder of Navalny, Vladimir Putin, is expected to win this election cycle, allowing him to stay in power until at least 2030.

You Might Also Like

Sudden Death
  • February 18, 2024

Sudden Death

Alexei Navalny’s death was entirely expected, and completely unacceptable.
An Anti-War Art Awakening
  • December 18, 2023

An Anti-War Art Awakening

Anonymous artist Zless creates anti-war art that juxtaposes traditional Russian symbols and the horrors of the invasion of Ukraine.
Zelyonka: It Ain't Easy Being Green
  • July 11, 2021

Zelyonka: It Ain't Easy Being Green

Brilliant Green Dye or "Zelyonka," as it is known in Russia, has been a popular antiseptic and mild chemical weapon in the country for years. How is it possible for one thing to have two such varied uses? 
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

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. 

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

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.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

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