Russian woman who protested war in Ukraine on state channel resigns: “My son has anxiety attacks” | War Ukraine and Russia

Marina Ovsyannikova suddenly appeared behind the news anchor on Monday night during a live news broadcast on Channel One and held up a sign that read: “NO WAR. Stop the war. Don’t believe the propaganda. They lie to you here.”

She was subsequently arrested and released. She has to pay a fine of no less than 30,000 rubles (250 euros). “I was aware that if I protested in Moscow I would be arrested.” Only her message would not have reached many people simply by protesting in a square in the capital of Russia.

That is why Ovsyannikova chose to disrupt a news broadcast of the Russian state broadcaster. Half of the message on her poster was written in English, the other half in Russian: “I really wanted to show the West that some Russians are against the war,” she says. “There are many conspiracy theories about my reasons, but I simply couldn’t watch from the sidelines.”

According to the TV employee, many Russian citizens have been brainwashed by propaganda. “And I understand that it is difficult to find alternative information, but one really has to look for it.”

After her protest, Ovsyannikova was arrested and interrogated. Up to fourteen hours and non-stop, she later testified. She hadn’t even been allowed to tell family or friends or call a lawyer.

Ovsyannikova tells Reuters that she hopes there will be no new criminal case against her. “I still stand behind what I’ve done.” Russia experts and high-ranking politicians praised her courage. France even offered her help through the embassy or through asylum.

“I don’t feel like a hero at all,” Ovsyannikova said. “I just hope that my sacrifice was not in vain and that it opens people’s eyes. Don’t be such zombies, don’t listen to all that propaganda. Learn how to analyze information. Learn how to find sources of information and don’t just watch Russian state television.”

Ovsyannikova told the television channel France 24 on Thursday that she has submitted her resignation. “It’s a legal procedure,” she says.

The family life of Ovshannikova, who has two young children, has been “ruined” by her protest, she told France 24. Her son, in particular, is struggling with anxiety attacks. “But we must end this war with our brother people, so that this madness does not degenerate into nuclear war. I hope my son, when he’s older, will understand why I did this,” she says.

In an interview with the German weekly Der Spiegel, the Russian said on Thursday that she refuses political asylum in France because she is a patriot. “We don’t want to leave, we don’t want to go anywhere,” she said, despite a proposal from French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the matter with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Ovshannikova told Der Spiegel that she acted alone. She does believe, however, that many colleagues from the state broadcaster sympathize with her “in silence”.

Also see: The full message Marina Ovsiannikova