A new trial has been launched against former TV editor Marina Ovsiannikova for her sensational live protest on state television against Russia’s war in Ukraine. The 44-year-old faces a fine of up to 50,000 rubles (around € 465) under a new media law, Interfax reported today, citing a competent court in Moscow.
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The law provides for a maximum prison term of 15 years for alleged disinformation about the Russian armed forces. Therefore, at first it was feared that Ovsjannikova might face a much more severe punishment.
Ovzjannikov is accused of “public acts discrediting the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation” in order to protect the interests of the Russian Federation and its citizens and to maintain international peace and security.
A former Kanal 1 employee almost two weeks ago was holding a poster for a camera behind the news presenter. It read, “Stop the war. Don’t believe the propaganda. You’re being lied to here. In Russia, the media is officially forbidden to speak of “war”, “invasion” or “invasion” of neighboring Ukraine. The Kremlin defines the term “military special operation” as a linguistic principle.