Russian journalist Marina Ovsiannikova, who rose to fame after interrupting a Russian state channel’s newspaper with a poster against the offensive in Ukraine, was arrested on Wednesday for “discrediting” the army, her lawyer said. “We are currently with the investigators. An investigation has been opened” against Ms. Ovsiannikova for “disseminating false information” about the Russian army, lawyer Dmitri Zakhvatov told AFP. “She was arrested,” he said.
Marina Ovsiannikova already sentenced to two fines
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, Ms. 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.
The images of his gesture went around the world
Ms. 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.
The images of his gesture went around the world. 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.
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.