She defied Russian threats and became a symbol of hope in a country where almost all media are silenced by the Putin regime.
Waving a placard with the slogan "No War", 44-year-old journalist Marina Ovsyanikova, a mother of two, took the risk of interrupting the main newscast on Russia's state-run Channel One to voice her opposition to Putin's war in Ukraine and denounce Moscow's propaganda.
Within hours, the video of Uvsyanikova's rebellion went viral on social media with her being arrested by the authorities. For a few hours, her whereabouts were lost.
She finally appeared in a Moscow court, where she was fined 250 euros (30 thousand rubles).
She was released so that her case, which has already assumed major proportions, would not be followed up.
Yesterday, French President Emmanuel Macron was quick to offer her "consular immunity".
Abroad, the Russian heroine of the last forty-eight hours is clearly more celebrated than in her homeland, as the French publication comments.
The Russian journalist's extraordinary contempt for Vladimir Putin quickly won praise from world leaders and even sparked calls for her to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, as the Daily Mail comments.
For many Russians, however, Ovchyanikova is the journalist who spouts her lies "on air."
For many Russians, however, Ovchyanikova is the journalist who spouts her lies "on air."
She herself, however, leaving a court in Moscow yesterday, said that, "Other journalists will follow her example."
The journalist was charged with "organizing an unauthorized public event."
However, this charge was based only on the video and not on the interruption of the newscast. As a result, there is a risk that she could face greater penalties, even years in prison if the law to eliminate "false news" about Russia's invasion of Ukraine is implemented, the Daily Mail reported.
The new law makes it a crime to use the word "war" for the conflict, rather than a military operation, and carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
Immediately after the verdict, Ovshyanikova told reporters:
"It was the most difficult moment of my life. I haven't slept for two days, I have been in custody for over 14 hours and I have not been allowed to contact my close people or get any legal advice. So I experienced a frankly tough situation. Thank you all for the support."
Source: protothema.gr
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
