Ukraine Crisis
Russian journalist Marina Ovsyannikova speaks after her televised protest
The Russian journalist who went viral after protesting during a live news bulletin has spoken following her arrest
Channel One news producer Marina Ovsyannikova has been fined and released following a political stunt she made on live television, protesting against the war in Ukraine.
Ovsyannikova, an editor at the state-controlled broadcaster, was detained after she ran on to the set on Monday holding a sign saying “no war”.
The news producer stated that she had been questioned for 14 hours straight and had not slept for two days.
She also claimed that she was not given any access to legal support.
Ovsyannikova was fined 30,000 rouble, which is approximately $280 USD. Authorities say the fine was as a result of her anti-war video message, which has gone viral around the world.
The journalist has been a voice for those suffering in Ukraine, on Monday stating that she felt ashamed to be working in a job that required her to lie about what’s really happening in Ukraine.
Ticker News understands she has since pleaded not guilty to the charge of organising an unauthorised public event.
In her viral video, Ovsyannikova called on the Russian people to protest against the war, saying only they have the power to “stop all this madness”.
“Don’t be afraid of anything. They can’t imprison us all,”
She said in her video.
It is not clear if she will face separate charges relating to her protest on live TV
There had been fears she would be prosecuted under a more serious, new criminal law that bans calling Russia’s military action in Ukraine an “invasion” or spreading “fake news” about the conflict. Under new rules by the Kremlin, the war must be referred to as a “special military operation”
Following her court hearing, Ovsyannikova told reporters that she needed to rest after two days without sleep
“The interrogation lasted for more than 14 hours, I wasn’t allowed to get in touch with my family or friends, I was denied access to a lawyer,”
The news producer also stressed that she came up with the idea of the protest alone.
“It was my anti-war decision. I made this decision by myself because I don’t like Russia starting this invasion. It was really terrible,” she said in English as she left the courthouse.
Lawyers were unable to locate Ovsyannikova for several hours after she was detained on Monday evening. Human rights advocates had been concerned for her safety.
Her whereabouts had been unknown until an image circulated on Russian media which showed her in court with lawyer Anton Gashinsky.