Marina Ovsyannikova, a Russian journalist who gained international attention for her live TV protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has been sentenced to 8.5 years in prison in absentia.
The sentence comes after Ovsyannikova held up a sign during a live broadcast in March 2022, just weeks after the war in Ukraine broke out. The sign read, "No to war. Stop the war. Don't believe the propaganda. They are lying to you."
You can watch the episode in the video below
Ovsyannikova was initially placed under house arrest but managed to flee the country with her 11-year-old daughter.
She is now on Russian President Vladimir Putin's list of wanted persons. In October 2022, it was revealed through her lawyer that she had escaped to a European country. She has since been employed by the German newspaper Die Welt as a freelance correspondent covering Ukraine and Russia.
The journalist was charged with spreading false information about Russia's armed forces after participating in a demonstration in July of the same year. Russia had introduced a new law on March 4, 2022, prohibiting criticism of its armed forces, just eight days after invading Ukraine.
Her TV protest in March 2022 led to her arrest and a fine of 30,000 rubles, equivalent to about $300, for "organizing an unauthorized public event."
Marina Ovsyannikova should probably avoid returning to Russia at all costs. If she does, she faces a nearly 9-year prison sentence awaiting her
The sentencing has been reported by news agencies AFP and Reuters.
