Meanwhile, the Vdovins collected documents to prove that the animal belonged to Aleksandra.

After the court dismissed the claim, Oleg Kuznetsov brought a suit against the 92-year-old, which was strongly disapproved of by the villagers. Understandable enough, people felt sorry for the old woman who was in poor health and would face charges from a 34-year-old businessman.

However, Galina Shilova, a district court judge, told Komsomolskaya Pravda that Kuznetsov is an “honourable man” whilst the Vdovins are “immoral”. Rumour has it, she said, that the sheep owners paid more than $US 1,000 to an advocate who presented them at the court.

After the court obliged the woman to pay a huge sum of money, a new upsurge of indignation followed, drawing the attention of the wider media.

The dispute over the black sheep turned into a class war: a poor peasant against a bourgeoisie who can afford a 500,000 rouble ($US 20,000) car.

And here more twists and turns to the story come. In fact, the Ford officially belongs not to Oleg Kuznetsov, but to his mother – a pensioner and a disabled person. But how come a person with low income bought an expensive car?

Meanwhile, Valentina Kuznetsova has been in hospital since the village dispute turned into a news story. Oleg is blaming journalists for what he calls “persecution”.

Who was right and who was wrong in this ‘sheep saga’? Aleksandra – a contemporary of the Russian Revolution of 1917 – who lived all her life in poverty? The businessman who dared to charge the old lady? Aleksandra’s son who made the story public?

Or maybe it’s the sheep that didn’t watch the road who should be blamed?

Not for us to judge.

Thanking an unnamed Muscovite for the help she received, Aleksandra said:

“May God bless you and give you many years of healthy life.”