A Russian journalist who interrupted a live TV news show to oppose the conflict in Ukraine has gone missing, according to reports.
Marina Ovsyannikova, an editor at state-controlled Channel 1, was jailed after running into the set with an anti-war banner on Monday.
“No war, stop the war, don’t believe the propaganda, they are lying to you here.” read the placard, which was plainly visible for a few seconds. Her current whereabouts is unknown.
Pavel Chikov, Ms Ovsyannikova’s lawyer, stated on Twitter that he was unable to locate his client. “Marina Ovsyannikova has yet to be located. She’s been locked up for more than 12 hours “On Tuesday morning, he stated.
According to him, the preliminary police inquiry “does not provide grounds for detention and imprisonment”
Police detained her for violating a new legislation that prohibits referring to Russia’s military operations in Ukraine as a “invasion” or disseminating “fake news” about the war.
Mr Chikov said Ms Ovsyannikova was likely to be fined 30,000 to 60,000 roubles (£205-£410) despite the fact that the worst sanctions carry a potential jail sentence of up to 15 years.
Ms Ovsyannikova said during the rally, which was shown live on Russia’s primary nightly news program, “War must be avoided! Stop the fighting! “before the show’s director turned to a pre-recorded news segment.
Prior to the incident, she made a video in which she labeled the events in Ukraine a “crime” and expressed her remorse at working for what she called Kremlin propaganda.
“I’m embarrassed that I allowed myself to be duped by the television screen. I’m sorry I enabled Russians to be converted into zombies “She elaborated. “We just silently watched this inhumane regime.”
Ms Ovsyannikova, whose father is Ukrainian, urged Russians to resist the conflict, claiming that only they could “stop the madness”
Russian television news has long been dominated by the Kremlin, and alternative perspectives are uncommon on all major stations.
The Russian state-controlled media refers to the war as a “special military operation” portraying Ukraine as the aggressor and branding the elected Ukrainian government as neo-Nazis.
Following pressure from the government, some of Russia’s last independent media sources, including the radio station Echo of Moscow and TV Rain, an internet TV program, have ceased transmitting or publishing.
Others, including as the newspaper Novaya Gazeta, are striving to report on the crisis while avoiding the new censorship restrictions.