‘If all those soldiers drop dead tomorrow, I’ll pour a glass of wine’ Siberia woman arrested over video slamming ‘Russia Day’ and public support for war

The Russian authorities arrested a woman in the Irkutsk region on Friday over a video on Instagram in which she criticized the country’s Russia Day holiday and the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. A day earlier, 35-year-old Maria Makhmutova had posted a clip of herself calling Russian soldiers “murderers” and criticizing her compatriots for celebrating the June 12th holiday amid falling living standards and an unprovoked war against their neighbor. Here’s what we know about Makhmutova’s case.

Officers from Russia’s Center for Combating Extremism (Center “E”) in the Irkutsk region have arrested 35-year-old Maria Makhmutova over what they called an “offensive video” about Russia Day and the Russian military, according to the regional police press office.

A video released by the agency shows emergency responders breaking down the door to Makhmutova’s apartment. Police said she had refused to open it, claiming the lock was broken. They also reported that she behaved “inappropriately” during the arrest and told officers she might harm herself. She was ultimately taken to a psychiatric facility for drug and alcohol testing.

“The woman’s actions are being legally assessed,” the Interior Ministry said. As of this writing, it’s unclear whether authorities have pressed charges against Makhmutova.

On June 12, Makhmutova posted an Instagram story criticizing both Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Russia Day, which was being celebrated that day.

“What fucking holiday is it? A fucking amazing one — Russia Day,” Makhmutova said in the video, according to Mediazona. She continued:

After the video spread on social media, members of the pro-war group The People’s Call filed complaints with the Investigative Committee and the Prosecutor General’s Office. Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin ordered a formal inquiry.

According to the outlet 7x7, Makhmutova said on social media that she had contacted the police herself after receiving threats. In another video, she attempted to cut her wrist on camera. When officers arrived, Makhmutova reportedly told them she couldn’t open the door because it had been “sealed shut.”