Marina Ovsiannikova in full protest on Russian TV. She then she had to leave the country. Photo capture.
Four trials and one arrest. Since returning to Russia, journalist Marina Ovsiannikova has been intimidated by power and redoubled her efforts, despite her criticism, to prove the sincerity of her opposition to the conflict in Ukraine.
On March 14, he interrupted the news live on the first Russian channel he worked with, Pervy Kanal a banner against the offensive launched by Vladimir Putin. A gesture that went around the world and changed his life.
After that hit, he announced that he would stay in Russia, but eventually moved and worked with the medium Die Welt in Germany for three months.
In her absence, her ex-husband, an employee of the pro-Kremlin RT network, brought her to justice for take custody of their two children and stop you from taking them overseas.
This is why the 44-year-old journalist made the “difficult decision” to return to Russia in early July, she told AFP.
Marina Ovsyannikova says she is not afraid to continue denouncing the war in Ukraine. Photo: AFP
“Russian roulette”
“I decided to play Russian roulette,” she says, dressed in an elegant black dress, sitting on a bench in central Moscow, after taking her daughter to a private school for a summer course.
Having lived comfortably and worked for state television for 19 years, she is now one of the last voices in Russia loudly condemn the conflict in Ukraine.
The other influential critics are in prison, keep a low profile or have gone into exile.
“I am a fighter, I continue to actively denounce the war, I have no intention of stopping, I am not afraid despite the intimidation”, shouts Marina Ovsiannikova.
Since his return from exile, he went to court to support the imprisoned opponent Ilia Iachin, demonstrated near the Kremlin with a banner calling Putin a “killer” and regularly posts on the Internet denouncing power.
Destruction after a Russian attack in the Kharkov region this Saturday. Photo: REUTERS
Despite the risks, he also continues to participate in the news broadcast by Russian opponents on social networks.
Due to her criticism, she was briefly detained by police near her home in mid-July fined her in two trials for statements against the offensive in Ukraine.
traitor?
On 8 August she will be tried again for having “discredited” the armynot to mention the process of keeping custody of the children.
Moreover, she suffers from the hostility of the Russian and Ukrainian opposition, who accuse her of being a Moscow propagandist, and that of the pro-Kremlin, who consider her a traitor to Russia.
Others accuse her of having changed shirts out of opportunism, career or to gain international visibility. But Marina Ovsiannikova calmly refutes the allegations.
“It is useful for power to constantly create conspiracy theories against me, people no longer know who to believe,” he says, while calling for all Kremlin opponents to “unite and support”.
He admits mistakes, yes, he admits that he stayed “too long” in his bubble, without “finding the strength” to change jobs. For her, this inaction and indifference, embraced by many Russians, is a form of fear-fueled “self-preservation”.
“Our people are really very scared. Even those who understand all the absurdity and horror that is happening prefer to keep quiet,” he argues, believing that the Russians criticize the power “in their kitchen”, away from prying ears, such as during the USSR.
family war
Ovsiannikova also recalls living in an “unenviable” situation, threatened from all sides and facing a “family war”.
But he points out that their problems are “insignificant” compared to the suffering of the Ukrainians.
Whether his activism will pay off remains to be seen a judicial process for “spreading false information” about the army, crime punishable by 15 years of imprisonment. Dozens of people have already been prosecuted in Russia for this reason.
At this point, the journalist is torn between hope and fatalism. According to her, the power may not move forward to avoid giving more echo to her famous protest on television, and because she says she has “solid international support”.
But his face contorts when asked whether or not he will leave Russia in case of criminal charges. “It’s hard to say, I live for the day,” he replies after hesitating.
“We can find a law to punish every person,” adds Marina Ovsiannikova, echoing a sinister aphorism that dates back to Stalinist terror. “If they make this decision, they will arrest me the same day, it will take a second.”
Source: AFP
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Romain Colas
Source: Clarin
