Support The Moscow Times!

Activist Films Man in Police Uniform Writing Pro-Putin Graffiti

Sergei Kiselyov / Moskva News Agency

A Russian activist has reportedly filmed a police officer spray painting the word “Putin” on a fence less than three weeks ahead of the presidential elections.

https://twitter.com/Gulay_Pole/status/968036742770122753

Activist Tatyana Ivanova published a video on the local 7x7 news website in which a man in a police uniform is seen writing “Putin” on a fence in the city of Syktyvkar in the Republic of Komi.

“Law enforcement members in the Republic of Komi have again become world famous for their desire to oblige their superiors in Moscow,” she wrote.

The regional police spokeswoman later told the outlet that the man seen in the video was a police investigator examining a crime scene.

Earlier this month, Ivanova published footage of on-duty police officers reportedly guarding Putin’s presidential campaign billboards across the city against acts of vandalism.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

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.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more