Russian News Editor Imprisoned for On-Air Protest

Amnesty international has called for the release of Marina Ovsyannikova after she was arrested on March 14th.

POSTED 17.03.22 03:06 BY AMELIA REYNOLDS

On Monday, people around the world were shocked when news editor, Marina Ovsyannikova. Appeared in the background of a Russian State news broadcast holding a sign that read: ‘NO WAR. Stop the war. Don't believe the propaganda. They're lying to you here."

I am in awe of #MarinaOvsyannikova pic.twitter.com/ODsQkARuNj
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) March 15, 2022

This comes at a time where Russian citizens are under scrutiny, facing 15-year prison sentences for going against the state narrative of the war; banned from social media sites.

A quote from the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, reveals that Russia is feeding the public false information about the war: ‘We didn’t attack Ukraine. As we have been explaining many times, they created the threats against the Russian Federation’ (PBS).

Marina Ovsyannikova, an editor at a TV channel in Russia, interrupted a live broadcast with a sign that read “NO WAR. Stop the war. Don't believe the propaganda. They're lying to you here.” She has since been detained. This is an act of incredible courage. pic.twitter.com/BOJ70m2ztv
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) March 14, 2022

Following her brave protest on live television, human rights activists have reported that Ovsyannikova has been apprehended and imprisoned. Her location was not unveiled for almost a day, leaving her without legal assistance.

Amnesty International, has condemned the actions of the Russian government and has called for her immediate release; stating that her arrest goes against her basic human rights.

Marina Ovsyannikova:

"Don't be afraid of anything.
They can't imprison us all."

BADASS. pic.twitter.com/LReicRAoVY
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) March 15, 2022

It is not certain what Ovsyannikova’s fate will be, the Russian government is notoriously secretive when it comes to the treatment of those, they feel are an enemy of the state. What is certain though, is that her selfless action was one of commendable bravery.

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