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

Political activist and member of the Russian band Pussy Riot has reportedly fled the country disguised as a food 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 towards the Russian president inside Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in 2012.

Regardless of being sentenced to 2 years in prison for their activism, the group continued to talk out towards the Kremlin chief, with Ms Alyokhina remaining decided to combat Mr Putin's system.

Russian air defences struck by Bayraktar drones - reside updates on Ukraine warfare

After being launched from prison, she continued her activism and set up a information outlet centered on crime and punishment in Russia, referred to as Mediazona, with another member of the band.

In April, Russian authorities positioned her below house arrest as they tried to cease those within the country who opposed their invasion of Ukraine.

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

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

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

Read more:
Biden fears Putin has no exit technique from Ukraine
Body language professional offers assessment of Putin's behaviour

Comparing her story to a "spy novel", Ms Alyokhina informed The New York Occasions: "I was completely happy that I made it, because it was an unpredictable and big kiss-off to the Russian authorities.

"I nonetheless do not perceive utterly what I've accomplished."

Subscribe to Ukraine Struggle Diaries on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Spreaker

Ms Alyokhina added: "I don't suppose Russia has a right to exist anymore.

"Even earlier than, there were questions about how it is united, by what values it is united, and the place it is going. But now I don't assume that may be a query anymore."

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