In Russia's Arctic, Navalny activist's election bid is crushed

FILE PHOTO: Opposition activist Violetta Grudina poses for a photo in Murmansk, Russia May 26, 2021. Courtesy of Violetta Grudina/Handout via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - First came leaflets in her stairwell accusing her of encouraging children to become gay. Then her office was vandalised and its windows shot at. And after that she was taken to hospital for COVID-19 treatment that she said she did not need or want.

Violetta Grudina, an opposition activist in Russia's Arctic port city of Murmansk, says the intimidation began after she said she would run for the city council in local elections being held alongside a federal parliamentary vote on Sept. 17-19.