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

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

Faith & Humor
December 01, 2011

Faith & Humor

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.

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.

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

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. 

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.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

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