A? St. Petersburg court ordered schoolteacher Tatyana Ivanova to? pay 30,000 rubles ($890) after she reported falsifications in? December elections.
The? decision partially satisfied a? case brought by? Regional Board of? Education head Natalya Nazarova, which originally sought 100,000 rubles to? protect her reputation and? for "moral suffering."
“I understand that politics is a very dirty thing, but of course, if they offered to let me participate one more time in the election campaign, I would not mind taking the place of [elections chief Vladimir] Churov," Ivanova said on her way out of the courtroom, Fontanka.ru reported.
Nazarova brought the? case against the? teacher after Ivanova said the? education board and? the city elections committee had organized falsifications in State Duma and? local Dec. 4 elections in? St. Petersburg.
Ivanova said that when she headed a? voting station at? a city school in? polls, election workers were instructed to? forge signatures and? submit extra election ballots in? favor of? United Russia. She said the workers were asked to? ignore violations of voting rules, and? polling station heads were promised 70,000 rubles to? cooperate. Ivanova said she refused the? money, and? as a? result, United Russia received one of? the lowest results in? the city at? her polling station.
As the? story gained attention in? the media, pressure mounted at? the school, and? Ivanova, who had taught for? more than 30 years, said she had to? leave her position.
The case has gathered attention in? social networks, and? Internet users said they would help pay the fine.
Supporters flooded the? court hearing Friday, spilling out into? the street. Several dozen outside held flowers along with the? white ribbons that have become symbols of? opposition’s protest.
Some supporters even came from? Moscow to? attend the? 3 1/2-hour court session, RIA-Novosti reported.
Ivanova's lawyers said she would appeal the decision.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.