First modification:
In a rare display of dissent, journalist Marina Ovsyannikova displayed an anti-war poster on Russian state television on Monday, March 14, before being arrested, fined and later released by authorities. In an interview with France 24, Ovsyannikova spoke out against Russian state “propaganda” and called for an end to the “fratricidal” war in Ukraine.
From Moscow, Marina Ovsyannikova thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for offering her political asylum in France, but said that as a “patriot” she preferred to stay in her native Russia.
The Russian journalist had to pay a fine of 30,000 rubles (about 250 euros) for a video she posted explaining her actions and calling on Russians to demonstrate against the war in Ukraine. Ovsyannikova noted that the fine “was not the end of the story,” as she could still face up to 15 years in prison for her on-air protest.
He added that his “dissatisfaction” with Russian state “propaganda” had grown over the years, especially after the poisoning and imprisonment of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, but that the “point of no return” was the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24th.
The journalist also explained that she has participated in several demonstrations against the war in Moscow but that “these protest actions were not effective because they are very restricted, very controlled.” Her on-air display of dissent was therefore “a strong message” to show that some Russians are against the war in Ukraine.
Ovsyannikova quit her job at Russian state television. She added that other journalists who are against the war were also resigning, but others couldn’t because of the economic situation.
The journalist, who has two young children, claimed that her son thought she had “destroyed” his “family life” with her protest. “But I explained to him that in life you have to react and make decisions that are often difficult,” she told France 24.
“Above all, we must end this fratricidal war. We must stop this madness before we get to something like nuclear war. That is why I think that when my son is a little older he will be able to understand my gesture, ”she concluded.
#Interview #Russian #journalist #Marina #Ovsyannikova #calls #fratricidal #war #Ukraine