An 81-year-old woman died soon after being detained for stealing three packs of butter from a supermarket on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, news reports said Wednesday.
The woman died at a police station in the island town of Kronstadt, news agencies Interfax and RIA Novosti reported. The cause of death is believed to have been acute heart failure.
Prices at supermarkets in Russia rose about 12 percent last year, according to the Federal State Statistics Service.
The ruble's devaluation and the Western food import ban are major factors driving up inflation in the country, and food prices this year are expected to show a similar dynamic.
The average monthly pension for senior citizens in Russia is forecast to be about 13,000 rubles ($200) this year, state newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta reported in late December.
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.
