Hot topics close

Russian journalist Marina Ovsyannikova who staged on-air protest fears for her safety - but won't flee country

Russian journalist Marina Ovsyannikova who staged onair protest fears for her safety  but wont flee country
In her first interview since the incident, Ms Ovsyannikova told Reuters she hopes she will not face criminal charges and that Russian people will scrutinise what they are being shown on TV about the war.

A Russian television presenter, who staged an on-air protest over her country's invasion of Ukraine has said she has no plans to flee, despite fears for her safety.

Marina Ovsyannikova held up a sign during a live broadcast on Channel One denouncing the war - a move the Kremlin described as "hooliganism".

Following a court hearing on Wednesday, she was fined 30,000 roubles (£213) state media reported.

Latest updates on Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

A protestor ran behind a news anchor to demonstrate against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They said: 0:22
'Don't believe propaganda': Protest on Russian TV

In her first interview since the incident, Ms Ovsyannikova told Reuters she is scared for her safety and that of her children but she has no plans to leave Russia.

Speaking in Russian, she told the news agency she hopes she will not face criminal charges nor that her protest will be in vain and Russian people will scrutinise war propaganda more carefully.

Marina Ovsyannikova records a message for the Russian people before staging a protest on state TV's news
Image: Marina Ovsyannikova recorded a message for the Russian people before staging a protest on state TV's news

There were fears Ms Ovsyannikova had gone missing following her stunt after a human rights lawyer said she had not been heard from for several hours.

More on Russia
Related Topics:

However, a photo surfaced on Tuesday of her with her lawyer.

The placard Ms Ovsyannikova held read in English: "No war. Russians against war."

In Russian, it said: "NO WAR. Stop the war. Don't believe propaganda. They are lying to you here."

She could be heard saying "Stop the war!" repeatedly and could still be heard after the broadcast was switched to an alternative output.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Ms Ovsyannikova appeared in court after she interrupted the broadcast.3:15
Russian journalist fined for protest

Ms Ovsyannikova, who said her father is Ukrainian and her mother Russian, also released a video of herself before her demonstration, in which she blamed President Vladimir Putin for the war.

She said she was "very ashamed" of her work for Channel One which had "allowed the Russian people to be zombified".

It is not clear if she will face other, more serious, charges. A new law, passed on 4 March, makes public actions aimed at discrediting Russia's army illegal. It also bans the spreading of fake news - which is decided by the Kremlin - and carries a jail term of up to 15 years.

Channel One, which is broadcast throughout Russia and has more than 250 million viewers worldwide, said it was conducting an internal review into the incident, TASS reported.

The key updates on Wednesday:Zelenskyy says peace talks 'more realistic' - as European leaders risk train ride to Kyiv to offer supportJohnson meeting controversial Saudi leader in bid to end 'addiction' to Russian oil• Zelenskyy to address US Congress, as NATO defence ministers meet in Brussels• Fox News cameraman and Ukrainian journalist killed near KyivMore than 122,000 Britons have now registered interest for refugee scheme

Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts,  Google Podcasts,  Spotify, Spreaker

The channel closely follows the Kremlin line that Moscow was forced to act in Ukraine to demilitarise and "de-Nazify" the country in a "special military operation".

The UN's human rights office called on Russian authorities to ensure Ms Ovsyannikova "does not face any reprisals for exercising her right to freedom of expression".

Similar news
News Archive
  • Downhill
    Downhill
    Downhill film review: Awkward Hollywood remake of Force Majeure gets lost in translation
    28 Feb 2020
    1
  • Virgin Mobile
    Virgin Mobile
    Virgin Media data breach affects 900,000 people
    5 Mar 2020
    14
  • Brian Tarantina
    Brian Tarantina
    'Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,' 'Gilmore Girls' actor Brian Tarantina dead at 60
    3 Nov 2019
    8
  • Haiti
    Haiti
    Haiti declares state of emergency after mass jailbreak
    4 Mar 2024
    9
  • Crimea
    Crimea
    Russian divers to inspect Crimea bridge as governor warns of 'desire to seek revenge'
    8 Oct 2022
    4
This week's most popular news