A Russian journalist interrupted a television news broadcast by holding a sign and shouting that viewers were being lied to, according to a story from The New York Times.
Marina Ovsyannikova, an editor at state-controlled Channel 1, stood behind the anchor during the program, holding the sign that read “NO WAR. Stop the war. Don’t believe propaganda. They are lying to you here.”
She was hustled away after several seconds and the television channel switched to a pre-recorded program.
For a time, Ovsyannikova’s whereabouts were unknown, some media outlets reported.
Her lawyer posted a photo to Twitter on Tuesday showing Ovsyannikova appearing in court.
“As far as this woman is concerned, this is hooliganism,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. He praised Channel 1, the channel where Osyannikova works, for its quality programming.
On Monday, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned Ovsyannikova’s action.
“I am grateful to those Russians who do not stop trying to convey the truth. To those who fight disinformation and tell the truth, real facts to their friends and loved ones,” Zelenskyy said.
“And personally, to the woman who entered the studio of Channel 1 with a poster against the war.”
She is facing administrative charges that she “organized an uncoordinated public event,” Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported.
She could face between three and 15 years in prison.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France would offer her protection, either at the embassy or through asylum, the BBC reported. Macron said he would discuss this in his next conversation with President Vladimir Putin.
🚨A Russian journalist who protested against the war on the country’s most popular TV channel has been missing overnight.
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 15, 2022
The whereabouts of Marina Ovsyannikova remain unknown 🧵👇https://t.co/l8MevbYPPJ pic.twitter.com/bU4RoEJ65m
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