RUSSIA TARGETS REPORTER WITH RAID, PROBE OVER WAR CRITICISM

Wed 10 August 2022:

Russian authorities have raided the home of a former state TV journalist who quit after making an on-air protest against the war in Ukraine, according to her lawyer.

Dmitry Zakhvatov told the independent news site Meduza that authorities had also launched a case against Marina Ovsyannikova under a new law, enacted after the February 24 invasion of Ukraine, that penalises statements against the military. A conviction is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

He added the case was likely linked to a protest Ovsyannikova staged last month, holding a banner that said, “[Russian President Vladimir] Putin is a killer, his soldiers are fascists.”

Ovsyannikova used to work as a producer with Russian state-funded Channel One. She made international headlines on March 14, when she appeared behind the anchor of an evening news broadcast holding a poster that said, “Stop the war, don’t believe the propaganda, they are lying to you here.”

She was charged with disparaging the Russian military and fined 30,000 roubles ($270 at the time). She has since staged several antiwar protests and spoken out publicly against the conflict numerous times.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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