Pro-war Moscow voter on trial for pouring green paint into a ballot box

A Moscow court has begun hearings against a young woman who supports the invasion of Ukraine on charges of vandalizing a ballot box with green antiseptic dye, independent news outlet Mediazona reported .

Alina Nevmyanova, 20, is among several Russians who were caught on camera spilling paint ( "zelenka" in Russian) or setting ballot boxes on fire during Russia's presidential election last month. Election officials said at the time that those arrested in these incidents had been promised money.

Nevmyanova faces up to five years in prison on charges of obstructing voting rights.

As Mediazona reports, Nevmyanova told the judge of the Butyrsky District Court that she had become a victim of telephone scammers who pretended to be employees of the Central Bank and the FSB and dictated her actions in the period from March 11 to 15.

“This employee… told me that it was I who was supposed to prevent election fraud [by casting a ballot and spilling green stuff into the box],” she is quoted as saying.

Nevmyanova told investigators that the scammers shouted “Glory to Ukraine, Alina!” into the phone when she was arrested immediately after the incident, Mediazona reports.

She also accused her state-appointed lawyer of forcing her to admit her guilt and agree that she was promised money for vandalizing the ballot box.

“Everything the prosecution says is untrue,” she said.

“My testimony in the case file does not say that I agreed to illegal actions because of 500 thousand rubles [$5,400],” she added.

Nevmyanova said she and her family donated to the Russian army during the war in Ukraine, where she said her cousin was killed on her birthday, Mediazona reported.

The judge decided to extend Nevmyanova's detention for another two months, the publication reports.

The next court hearing is scheduled for May 28.