10:14, 16 March 2024Source: 

Residents of Moscow said that they received messages from bots in instant messengers in which they were accused of supporting “extremist ideas” and demanded to vote “without queues.”

This mailing was reported by Meduza readers who received the message both on Telegram and Signal. “Caution, Moscow” also writes about messages from bots with the same text .

One of Meduza’s readers suggested that the mailing uses a database of those who took an absentee ballot at Gosuslugi to vote in Moscow. “Caution, Moscow,” in turn, suggests that the mailing could have been launched to those who took an absentee ballot in Moscow, and previously signed for the nomination of Boris Nadezhdin as a presidential candidate. Another Meduza reader put forward the version that the mailing list recipients were chosen among those who, like himself, subscribed to Navalny’s team or liked their posts.

Aleksei Navalny’s associates and the politicians and public figures who joined them scheduled the “Noon Against Putin” rally for March 17. Protesters opposed to Vladimir Putin are encouraged to come to polling stations at the same time.

On March 13, the Moscow prosecutor’s office  issued  a warning to Maria Andreeva, an activist of the “Way Home” movement, who supported “Noon Against Putin,” indicating that she saw “signs of extremist activity” in the upcoming action. Also, the Moscow prosecutor’s office warned twice more against participation in the rally, threatening criminal liability for obstructing voting and  for involving minors in a crime.

(C)MEDUZA 2024