A 50-year-old pensioner who set herself on fire in a United Russia office in Novosibirsk has died from injuries sustained during the blaze.
Valentina Gerasimova, apparently aggrieved over advice she received from party officials regarding a housing dispute, passed away Saturday evening in a Novosibirsk hospital after falling into a coma, Siberian news portal Sib.fm reported, citing a neighbor.
Gerasimova had suffered burns over 90 percent of her body after pouring fuel over herself and igniting it with a cigarette lighter in one of the ruling party's Novosibirsk branches Wednesday.
United Russia employee Oleg Puchkov, 42, received burns on 13 percent of his body while trying to extinguish the flames. It was not clear Sunday how Puchkov's recovery was progressing.
Investigators have opened a criminal case with potential charges of driving Gerasimova to commit suicide, which carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison. No suspects have been named.
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.
