Russian journalist Marina Ovsianikova flees house arrest condemns Putin’s war

In her first remarks since escaping pretrial house arrest earlier this week, Russian journalist Marina Ovsinikova said she considered herself “completely innocent” and issued a call for Russian President Vladimir Putin to be removed from society and for his trial.

“Since our state refuses to comply with its laws, I refuse to comply with the restraint measures imposed on me in the form of house arrest, and I release myself from it as of September 30, 2022,” Ovsyannikova Posted on Telegram From an undisclosed location Wednesday.

“Respectable employees of the Federal Prison Service, put such a bracelet on Putin,” she said in a video clip, referring to the electronic tracking device that Russian officials were forced to wear on her ankle. “It is he who should be isolated from society and not me, and he should be tried for the genocide of the people of Ukraine and for the fact that he destroyed the male population of Russia en masse.”

Ovsyannikova, the former editor of Russia’s state-run TV Channel 1, made international headlines earlier this year after she broke into the channel’s flagship news programme, carrying a poster that read “Stop the war.” Her protest was widely hailed as a dangerous act of resistance as Russia moved to crack down on critics and public displays of dissent amid its invasion of Ukraine.

Russian journalist who protested Ukraine’s air war escapes house arrest

On Wednesday, Ovsyannikova again urged Russians not to believe the government’s lies, saying she was targeted simply for telling the truth. After the Russian invasion in February, access to the media was quickly blocked and Moscow banned what it considered “false” news of its attack on Ukraine. Russia media suppression Many journalists were forced to flee the country.

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Russia has twice fined Ovsyannikova for defaming its army, and in August placed her under a two-month house arrest for spreading false news about the army, the punishment of which is up to 10 years.

It is still unclear how she managed to escape with her 11-year-old daughter. Ovsyannikova has not responded to calls and texts from the Washington Post in recent days.

Russian media reported that Ovsyannikova’s ex-husband first informed authorities on Saturday that she was missing. Igor Ovsyanikov told the pro-Kremlin network RT that he does not know the whereabouts of his ex-wife, but his daughter does not have a passport.

Ovsyanikova’s statements were similar to Putin’s signed a document Formalization of the annexation of four regions of Ukraine, a violation of international law. Despite this step, Ukrainian forces are making “rapid and strong progress” in the south of the country and liberating “dozens of settlements” from Russian control, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Natalia Abakumova contributed to this report.

The war in Ukraine: what you need to know

Last: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees Friday to The annexation of four occupied regions of Ukraine, after interim referendums were widely denounced as illegal. Follow us Live updates here.

the answer: The Biden administration announced on Friday a New round of sanctions against RussiaIn response to the annexations, it targeted Russian and Belarusian government officials, family members, military officials, and defense procurement networks. As President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday, so is Ukraine Apply for a “quick ascent” to NATOIn clear response to the annexations.

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In Russia: Putin announced military mobilization On September 21 to call up to 300,000 reserve soldiers In a dramatic attempt to reverse the setbacks in his war on Ukraine. advertising led to exodus From More than 180,000 peopleespecially The men who were subject to serviceAnd the Renewed protests and other acts of defiance against the war.

Fighting: Ukraine launched successful counterattack who – which Russia forced a major withdrawal in the northeastern Kharkiv region In early September, when the troops fled the cities and villages they had occupied since the early days of the war and Abandoned large amounts of military equipment.

Pictures: Washington Post photographers have been on the ground since the start of the war. Here are some of their most powerful works.

How you can help: Here are some of the ways they can do it in the United States Support the Ukrainian people Beside What people donate around the world.

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