Marina Ovsyannikova, whom is a Russian journalist was fined and released after she protested against the war in Ukraine on a live TV news program and made an "anti-war" video. Marina works as an editor at Channel 1, and she ran onto the news set recently holding a sign saying "no war." She was questioned for 14 hours proceeding this, and did not sleep for two days. Marina was also never given access to legal help. Marina claims "The interrogation lasted for more than 14 hours, I wasn't allowed to get in touch with my family or friends, I was denied access to a lawyer." Marina would stress several times that she came up with the idea of protesting by herself. She claims, "It was my anti-war decision. I made this decision by myself because I don't like Russia starting this invasion. It was really terrible." Ms. Ovsyannikova's whereabouts were completely unknown, as lawyers were searching for her, until an image was circulated through the media of her sitting in court with lawyer Anton Gashinsky.
It has been reported that a German media outlet, has hired Marina Ovsyannikova as a news correspondent. This was only just a few weeks after her protest happened. The Company is "Die Welt" and according to Ovsyannikova, Die Welt "stands for what is being defended so vehemently by the courageous people on the ground in Ukraine right now: for freedom." Ulf Porschardt, who is the editor in chief of Welt Group stated, "Ms Ovsyannikova's on-air protest "defended the most important journalistic ethics-despite the threat of state repression. I am excited to be working with her." Although Ms Ovsyannikova has still been able to get another job she could still face several years and further prosecution. Russia has also recently made it illegal to call the war an "invasion," for Russian controlled news organizations, correspondents now instead have to call it a "special military operation".
Russian authorities have been cracking down on independent journalism, anti-war protests and dissenting voices. Authorities have blocked the popular critical media outlets, and forced dozens of journalists to halt their work or leave the country, "authorities have almost completely deprived people in Russia of access to objective, unbiased and trustworthy information." It is unbelievable to me personally how Roskomnxdzor, Russia's media regulator, has blocked access to both Facebook and Twitter.
To end off with, Russian journalists and the press, ultimately have no say on what they can and cannot say while on camera and even off camera. Even the Russian people in general have no access to almost any social media, I personally cannot imagine living in a country that has almost no say on what they can view from media outlets all because of the government they live under.
Russian Journalist Marina Ovsyannikova
Marina Ovsyannikova is hired at German News Outlet
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