Russian TV Producer Fined $280 After On-Air Protest Against the War
Ukraine Russian TV Producer Fined ... After On-Air War Protest
UPDATE
10:08 AM PT -- Marina Ovsyannikova, thankfully, won't suffer any serious consequences for her anti-war protest, only receiving a $280 fine from court. She thanked everyone for their support upon leaving and talking to reporters.
UPDATE
UPDATE
7:39 AM PT -- Good news ... Marina Ovsyannikova is safe and sound (AKA, alive) after she was spotted in Russian court today. The bad news ... it looks like she may be facing some charges and perhaps might even be prosecuted.
UPDATE
And here she is in court! Marina Ovsyannikova! https://t.co/6OHalWLRYZ pic.twitter.com/B5R5W1DtRV
— Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) March 15, 2022 @KevinRothrock
UPDATE
Independent journo Kevin Rothrock posted a photo of human rights lawyer Anton Gashinsky next to Marina, writing ... "And here she is in court! Marina Ovsyannikova!" It's great that she's alright and finally accounted for, but a huge bummer that she's not out of the woods yet.
A Russian TV producer who barged in on a live, state-run newscast with an anti-war protest is now MIA.
Human rights group OVD-Info -- which tracks Russian protests and detainments -- has been unable to locate Marina Ovsyannikova ... the TV editor who ran on set in the middle of a telecast with a "No War" sign.
During Monday's 9 PM news show on Russia's flagship network, which cranks out pro-Putin propaganda, Ovsyannikova ran behind the anchor who was in the middle of talking with her poster in hand which said, "Stop the war. Do not believe propaganda they tell you lies here. Russians against war." She was chanting, "Stop the war, no to war!"
The camera cut away to video footage ... and she was gone when they went back to the studio. Many believe Ovsyannikova was swiftly taken in by the authorities ... and now, nobody can find her.
There are differing reports on what happened to her and what's going to happen next ... a Kremlin spokesperson called her act "hooliganism" and insisted Channel One was dealing with it internally, and not the government.
In the meantime, local outlets are reporting an official investigation has been launched against her ... and Ovsyannikova may face criminal charges for criticizing the government.
As you might imagine ... her story has sparked lots of outcry, with different humanitarian and watchdog orgs calling for her safe release and freedom from persecution. Of course, tracking her down first would be a great first step ... she's vanished for upwards of 12-plus hours now.
Ovsyannikova actually posted a video before storming the set, noting she had Ukrainian family members ... while also calling the war in Ukraine a crime, and encouraging folks to speak out and demonstrate.
Originally Published -- 6:38 AM PT
