The images of his gesture went around the world. Journalist Marina Ovsiannikova became famous for interrupting the newspaper on a state channel. In particular, she held up a poster against the offensive in Ukraine. Accused of having “discredited” the Russian army, she was arrested on Wednesday.
“We are currently with the investigators. An investigation has been opened” against Marina Ovsiannikova for “spreading false information” about the Russian army, lawyer Dmitry Zakhvatov told AFP. “She was arrested,” he said.
Two convictions
Investigators must now decide whether Marina Ovsiannikova, mother of two minor children, will be remanded in custody or remain free pending trial, according to the same source.
Since the end of July, Marina Ovsiannikova has already been sentenced twice to fines for having “discredited” the Russian army, in particular on the basis of messages criticizing the offensive in Ukraine published on social networks. Two convictions less than six months apart pave the way for a criminal case, with potential legal consequences much heavier.
His gesture against “propaganda”
Marina Ovsiannikova became famous in mid-March after appearing, in full newspaper, on the set of a pro Kremlin television channel for which she worked. During her speech, she carried a sign denouncing the offensive in Ukraine and the “propaganda” of the media controlled by the power.
Many people praised his courage, in a context of repression of any critical voice in Russia. However, she is not unanimous within the Russian opposition, some still reproaching her for her years spent working for the Pervy Kanal channel, the Kremlin’s mouthpiece.
Russian political repression
After working several months abroad, notably for the German newspaper die Welt, she announced in early July that she had returned to Russia to settle a dispute related to the custody of her two children.
Russia, which has already been engaged for many years in repressing voices critical of the Kremlin, has considerably toughened since the assault on Ukraine its criminal arsenal against those who denounce Russian power.
