The explosion of a woman in a highly-watched news broadcast in Russia on Monday night, marked by criticism of a military offensive in Ukraine, is a very rare sight in a country where information is strictly controlled.
The NGO OVD-Info, which protects the rights of protesters, shows the woman as Marina Ovsyanikova, an employee of the chain, who announced that she had been arrested and taken to police.
The scene took place during the main evening news program of the country’s most powerful television channel, the Pervy Canal, known as “Vremia” (“time”), a daily meeting of millions of Russians since the Soviet era.
Celebrity presenter Ekaterina Andreyeva spoke, while Ms Ovsiannikova appeared behind her with a note that read, “No war. Do not believe the propaganda. They are lying to you.”
Can we still read the flag-drawn sign of Ukraine and Russia, “Russians are anti-war”?
Broadcast time of a few seconds
Without interruption, the presenter speaks for a few seconds, the opponent chanting “No to war” and then the channel broadcasts a report on hospitals, stopping the live broadcast on the set.
“An internal investigation is underway into the incident,” Bervy Canal said in a statement.
According to the Toss News Agency, the young woman could be prosecuted for “discrediting the use of the Russian armed forces.”
In a video previously recorded and published by OVD-Info, Ms Ovsyanikova explains that the two countries cannot be seen as enemies because her father is Ukrainian and her mother is Russian.
“Unfortunately, I worked for Pervy Coal for the last few years and campaigned for the Kremlin. Today I am very ashamed,” he says.
People “Zombie Fight”
“I am ashamed of allowing lies to be broadcast on television and ashamed of allowing the Russian people to ‘zombie’,” he adds.
The video spread like wildfire on social media, with many Internet users praising the woman’s “courage” in the face of brutal repression against all forms of dissent.
In an attempt to control all information about the conflict, authorities have blocked more independent media and key social networks such as Twitter and Facebook.
As a result, most Russians can only access the version published by the government and the media, including the Pervy Kanal of a “special military operation” aimed at “reducing” Ukraine and preventing “genocide.”
This article was automatically published. Sources: ats / afp