Marina Ovsiannikova had become an icon after appearing in the middle of the news armed with a sign against the war in Ukraine. The Russian journalist becomes a correspondent in Ukraine and Russia for the major German daily Die Weltannounced the media on Monday.
She will write for the newspaper and contribute regularly to its television news channel. “Marina Ovsiannikova had the courage, at a decisive moment, to confront viewers in Russia with an undiluted picture of reality,” explained Ulf Poschardt, editor-in-chief of the Welt group, in a press release.
“Defend this freedom”
“She thus defended the most important journalistic virtues, despite the threat of state repression,” adds the boss of the conservative daily.
“Welt represents what is rightly defended so vehemently in Ukraine by the courageous people there: freedom. As a journalist, I consider it my duty to defend this freedom,” said Marina Ovsiannikova, 43, in the same press release.
She faces criminal charges.
The Russian journalist appeared live in mid-March during Russia’s most-watched newscast, on the Pervy Kanal channel, with a sign criticizing Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and denouncing the “propaganda” of the government-controlled media. .
Briefly arrested, then sentenced in the process to a simple fine and left free, Marina Ovsiannikova, who has since left the channel, risks criminal proceedings punishable by heavy prison sentences, under the terms of a recent law repressing any “false information” on the Russian army.
