Journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, who caused a stir Monday night with a protest action during a Russian television news program, has been fined and released for the time being. A Moscow court sentenced her on Tuesday to pay 30,000 rubles (about 250 euros).
However, Ovzyannikova was not tried on Tuesday for her appearance during the television program, but for the video she had previously recorded in which she requested “participation in uncoordinated public events”, which is considered a misdemeanor.
The judicial process for her television protest is yet to come, so it is not clear whether the journalist will be brought before a criminal or administrative court.
“I do not admit my guilt,” Ovzyannikova said in the courtroom, a journalist told AFP. “I am convinced that Russia is committing a crime,” she said. Russia is “the aggressor in Ukraine,” she added.
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On Monday night, journalist Ovsyannikova caused a break in the main evening news program on Russian state television. She suddenly appeared behind news anchor Ekaterina Andreyeva during Pervy Kanal’s “Vremya” program and held a banner with the inscription “Stop the war.” Don’t believe the propaganda. They are going to lie to you here, ”she said on camera.
The protester, herself an employee of the station, also shouted “Stop the war!” before the live broadcast was cut off and a report on the hospitals aired.
Perwy Kanal (German: Ester Kanal) is the main television channel in the country. The news program “Wremja” has been broadcast at 9 pm for decades and is comparable to broadcast news.
TV channel announces internal review
The excerpt from the video spread immediately on social networks. Above all, the Russian opponents praised the woman for her bravery.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyj also expressed his thanks. He thanks those Russians “who keep telling the truth,” Zelensky said. referring to anti-war protests in Russia and citing protesters on state television as an example.
The spokesman for the EU’s chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, added on Tuesday that the protest was the latest example of a bold stance debunking the Kremlin’s lies and propaganda. The Russian government continues to repress the local opposition and peace-loving population, denying them basic rights such as freedom of expression.
The Kremlin harshly condemned the action. “As for this girl, that is hooliganism,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by the Interfax agency on Tuesday. The television network must resolve the matter, it is not the Kremlin’s task.
In a statement, the first Russian TV channel only spoke of an “incident” during the “Vremya” program and announced an internal review.
In Russia, the media is prohibited from calling the Russian invasion of Ukraine a “war” or an “invasion.” Instead, there is official talk of a “special military operation.”
Marina Ovsyannikova had previously uploaded a video to her Instagram channel. “I’m ashamed that I allowed lies to run across the screen. Go protest. Don’t be afraid of anything. They can’t lock us all up,” she said.
“What is happening in Ukraine is a crime,” he said. Only Russian President Vladimir Putin is responsible for the aggression. He called on his compatriots to protest against the war.
“It’s up to us to end all this madness.” According to Ovsyannikova, she has a Ukrainian father and a Russian mother. She herself was born in 1978 in Odessa, Ukraine, which is currently preparing for an attack by the Russian army.
The camp of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny wants to support the woman. They want to take over the sanctions that could be imposed on them, Maria Pewtschich of Navalny’s FBK organization wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. (agencies)
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