"Go vote or else ..."

Russians are now being blackmailed with threatening text messages

(Bild: APA/AFP/NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA)

Residents of the Moscow metropolis are currently reporting strange messages arriving via Messenger. First, they are accused of supporting "extremist ideas" - a popular expression in Russia that applies to anything that does not serve the Kremlin in its quest for power. But by going to the ballot box, they promise, they can redeem themselves.

According to media reports, critically-minded people have received warnings on their cell phones ahead of a planned protest in the Russian presidential election, which has been criticized as a farce. The independent portal "Meduza" published screenshots of messages sent to readers from Moscow on Saturday. They read: "Regardless of the fact that you support the ideas of extremist organizations, we are pleased that you will be voting in Moscow."

This is followed by an invitation to take part in the election "calmly" - "without queues and provocations". It was not initially known who was behind the messages, which were sent on Telegram and Signal, or how the recipients were selected.

Woman in custody after attack with Molotov cocktail
After a young woman detonated a Molotov cocktail at a polling station on Friday, it has now been revealed that she is in custody. The explosive mixture also caused an election poster to go up in flames. According to "Mash", the lady made a video about it. According to the information provided, she has confessed and now faces up to five years in prison.

New paint attack on ballot box
Another attack with a colored liquid occurred in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg on Saturday. According to "Wetschernie vedomosti", a woman was arrested in this connection:

Large protests expected
The presidential election, which lasts until Sunday evening, is considered completely undemocratic and serves to maintain Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's power in the midst of the war Russia is waging against Ukraine. Russian opposition activists have therefore called on people to stage a resistance action: On Sunday at exactly 12.00 noon, they are to show up at their polling stations. It is hoped that the long queues will reflect the dissatisfaction in the country. Russian authorities, on the other hand, have already threatened to prosecute participants in advance, claiming that the campaign shows "signs of extremist activity".

Isolated protests had already been observed on the first day of voting on Friday in the huge country with its eleven time zones. In some polling stations, men and women tipped paint into the ballot boxes or even set small fires. Several arrests were made.