Pussy Riot band member Maria Alyokhina escapes Russia dressed as meals courier after criticising Putin | World Information

Political activist and member of the Russian band Pussy Riot has reportedly fled the country disguised as a meals courier after criticising Vladimir Putin.

Maria Alyokhina and her fellow band members first came to the attention of the Russian authorities after staging a protest against the Russian president inside Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in 2012.

Despite being sentenced to two years in prison for their activism, the group continued to talk out against the Kremlin leader, with Ms Alyokhina remaining determined to combat Mr Putin's system.

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After being launched from prison, she continued her activism and set up a news outlet targeted on crime and punishment in Russia, known as Mediazona, with one other member of the band.

In April, Russian authorities placed her below home arrest as they tried to cease these in the country who opposed their invasion of Ukraine.

The 33-year-old was then ordered to spend 21 days in a penal colony.

However, the band leader managed to evade the Moscow police by disguising herself as a food courier and leaving her telephone behind as a decoy.

She was then in a position to cross into Lithuania after in search of the assistance of an artist from Iceland, who secured her travel paperwork.

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Comparing her story to a "spy novel", Ms Alyokhina informed The New York Occasions: "I was pleased that I made it, as a result of it was an unpredictable and large kiss-off to the Russian authorities.

"I nonetheless do not perceive completely what I've done."

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Ms Alyokhina added: "I do not think Russia has a right to exist anymore.

"Even before, there have been questions on how it's united, by what values it is united, and where it is going. However now I don't assume that is a question anymore."

In 2019, fellow bandmate Nadya Tolokonikova spoke to Sky Information about her time in a prison camp and protests taking place in Russia.