A woman set fire to a voting booth at a polling station in Moscow on Friday, the first day of the Russian presidential election, the state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

“In the election commission of Moscow, RIA Novosti reported that after the incident, activity at the polling station resumed as normal,” the agency reported.

Video broadcast by independent news station SOTAVision shows the arrest of the suspect after the flames were extinguished at the polling station.

The number of incidents aimed at disrupting voting in Russia is increasing, AFP reports.

The Moscow Times recalls the case of a woman who threw green ink, which is often used by Putin’s opponents, into the ballot box.

Another person threw a Molotov cocktail at the police station on the street. Petersburg, Putin’s hometown, local news site Fontanka reported, as cited by Reuters.

At least eight people were detained for damaging polling stations

At least eight people were arrested on Friday, the first day of Russia’s presidential election, for vandalizing polling stations, authorities said, without specifying whether they were protests against the re-election of Vladimir Putin. for AFP.

The Russian president, who has been in power for almost a quarter of a century, is certain to be re-elected as the country’s leader in the absence of any opposition.