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Azelyonka attack is a form of protest, provocation or violent assault, defined as throwing a solution ofbrilliant green (Russian:зелёнка,zelyonka,Ukrainian:зеленка,zelenka), atriarylmethane antiseptic dye, on the body (usually face) of a victim. On top of potential danger of vision loss, it is very hard to remove quickly; the complete natural removal may take up to a week.[1][2] In the 2010s,zelyonka attacks became widespread inRussia andUkraine by pro-government activists against anti-government political and other personalities.[3][1]
Zelyonka is atriarylmethane antiseptic dye that is widely used medically in Russia and Ukraine.[1][4] The dye, often used as a milder alternative toiodine, is available in Russian pharmacies and drug stores.[5][6] The dye is very hard to wash off and can leave a stain for days afterwards, and requires an acid to fully remove.[2] However, unlesszelyonka is mixed with other substances (e.g. as with the second attack onAlexei Navalny), it leaves no long-term damage, and thus victims have little legal recourse.[1][2]
The use of the dye was associated with pro-Kremlin activists, although it was never directly tied to the Russian government.[1] The victims ofzelyonka attacks were almost always Russian opposition voices, such asSergey Mitrokhin,Mikhail Kasyanov,Lyudmila Ulitskaya,Pussy Riot activistsMaria Alyokhina andNadezhda Tolokonnikova, andAlexei Navalny, and Ukrainian politicians, journalists and activists, includingPetro Poroshenko,Arsen Avakov,Arseniy Yatsenyuk,Oleksandr Turchynov,Oleh Liashko, andRuslan Kotsaba.[7][1][8]
In 2023, journalistElena Milashina was attacked in the Russian region ofChechnya. The attackers shaved her head and covered her inzelyonka.[9]
As a result of numerous attacks, part of the Russian opposition leaders began to usezelyonka and green color as a "badge of honor". After Navalny was attacked inBarnaul, dozens of his supporters posted online photos of themselves "in green" (#GreenNavalny[10]), and blogger Nikolai Danilov, who came toRed Square with a face covered with green colour, was detained by the police. When Kasyanov was attacked on the memorial march forBoris Nemtsov, the demonstrants began to cry out: "You won't pourzelyonka over us!"[11][12]
On 4 May 2017, Alexei Navalny stated that the incidents involving zelyonka ended up helping his fundraising.[13] On the same day, Russian poetDmitry Bykov published a poem "Vivat, Green Russia!", in which green color was named as the color of "Russian revolution".[14]
Zelyonka has become the weapon of choice for less lethal attacks. The dye is hard to wash off, but unless mixed with other substances (as in the second attack on Mr Navalny), it does no lasting damage, leaving victims with little legal recourse. Much of the thuggery takes place at arm's length from the Kremlin, but seemingly with its blessing.
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