An elderly Russian woman faces misdemeanor charges for encouraging neighbors to meet with journalists

A 63-year-old woman outside Nizhny Tagil faces misdemeanor charges for allegedly organizing an unpermitted public assembly because she urged her neighbors to meet with a visiting television news crew.

Irina Kutsenok says she appealed to journalists after her town had gone without hot water for two months. When she learned that a film crew from Vesti Ural would come on August 1, she posted signs in the lobbies of apartment complexes throughout the town, urging residents to gather for a meeting with the reporters. Afterwards, Kutsenok says a top local official named Marina Selskaya filed a police report against her, accusing her of staging an illegal demonstration.

Kutsenok’s hearing is scheduled for August 30. If convicted, she faces a fine of up to 30,000 rubles ($440), fifty hours of community service, or 10 days in jail.