The protesting Russian TV employee who interrupted a live news broadcast by walking on screen while holding an anti-war sign is reportedly feared to be missing.
The woman, who was identified as Channel One editor Marina Ovsyannikova, was initially detained Monday on administrative charges.
As of early Tuesday morning, a tweet translated from Russian human rights group OVD-Info’s Twitter account said: “A pre-investigation check was initiated against Channel One employee Maria Ovsyannikova, who came out with an anti-war poster during the live broadcast of the Vremya program, TASS reports citing its source. Where she is is still unknown.”
❗️В отношении сотрудницы «Первого канала» Марии Овсянниковой, вышедшей с антивоенным плакатом в кадр во время прямого эфира программы «Время», возбудили доследственную проверку, сообщает ТАСС со ссылкой на свой источник
Где она находится — до сих пор неизвестно https://t.co/qtSxd0HJBa
— ОВД-Инфо (@OvdInfo) March 15, 2022
Pavel Chikov, chairman of the Agora International Human Rights Group based in Kazan, Russia, also said she “has not been found.”
Марину Овсянникову пока найти не удалось. Она лишена свободы уже более 12 часов
— Pavel Chikov (@pchikov) March 15, 2022
In a separate tweet, Chikov said Ovsyannikova’s lawyer, Danill Berman, was not able to see her while she was detained at the TV station.
There are concerns that she is being held in a secret location.
“They want to scare a lot,” Berman said, according to the Daily Mail.
TIKTOK SUSPENDS LIVESTREAMING IN RUSSIA FOLLOWING RUSSIA’S NEW ‘FAKE NEWS’ LAW
Ovsyannikova disrupted the newscast Monday on her own channel by holding a sign that read, “Stop the war. Don’t believe propaganda. They’re lying to you.”
Apparently, a woman just ran onto the stage during a Russian state television news broadcast with a sign that said, “Stop the war! Don’t believe propaganda! They’re lying to you here!” pic.twitter.com/nn5XWsh4Wn
— Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) March 14, 2022
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Prior to the newscast, she recorded a video message saying she was ashamed of her work “doing Kremlin propaganda” at Channel One. She encouraged others to protest and not be afraid.
Ovsyannikova faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted under Russia’s new “fake news” law.
