A 64-year-old woman detonated a firecracker in the bathroom, resulting in the loss of her hand, as reported by Baza. The event took place at the Perm City Cultural Palace named after Soldatov, leading to the evacuation of 50 individuals from the building.
According to eyewitness accounts, the woman was on the phone shortly before the explosion, and it is suspected that she may have been the victim of fraudsters.
A security guard at the site had checked the contents of the woman's bag but found nothing prohibited. Law enforcement is currently investigating how the firecracker was brought into the polling station.
This incident is part of a wider pattern of election-related disturbances in Russia, with at least 20 attempts to set fire to ballot boxes or douse them with dye reported during the election period across the country.
Those attempting to burn the polling station or spoil ballots with brilliant green dye were detained on the spot. Following such incidents, investigative bodies have initiated cases under Article 141 of the Russian Criminal Code (obstruction of the exercise of electoral rights), with the detained facing up to four years in prison.
Several individuals involved in arson attacks have claimed to be victims of telephone fraud. For instance, an 80-year-old pensioner who set off fireworks in Chelyabinsk told investigators during questioning that she had received a call from strangers asking for her assistance in identifying foreign intelligence agents, according to Ura News.
In response to these events, Yana Lantratova, a deputy from the "Fair Russia" party, has announced a legislative proposal to increase the penalty for attempting to "disrupt the conduct of elections by arson or other dangerous means" to up to eight years in prison.
