There is no trace of Ovsjannikova
The process is considered an unprecedented process in the almost militarily regulated broadcasting operations of state television with pro-Kremlin and very well paid propagandists. Ovsyannikova was arrested following the action, apparently there is no trace of her.
Her lawyer, Daniil Berman, told AFP on Tuesday that he had no contact with his client and did not know where exactly she was being held. A spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the woman who protested Moscow’s military action in Ukraine during a Russian news program had “disappeared”. Her lawyers are not allowed to contact her.
Kremlin speaks of “hooliganism”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov described the incident as “hooliganism” and that the station management had to take care of it. He praised channel one for its high-quality, objective and up-to-date programming.
First it was said that Ovsjannikova was threatened with administrative proceedings and an administrative penalty. But now there are fears that the editor and mother of two might also be prosecuted under a controversial new law criminalizing defamation of the Russian army. Anyone who tarnishes the reputation of Putin’s armed forces with alleged or real false reports has recently been threatened with up to 15 years in prison in Russia.
Macron wants consular protection
The United Nations Human Rights Office called on Russia to respect the protester’s civil rights. The woman should not suffer reprisals for exercising her right to freedom of expression, spokeswoman for the UN human rights office, Ravina Shamdasani, said in Geneva.
French President Emmanuel Macron wants to offer the Russian journalist consular protection. “We are taking diplomatic steps to ensure that the (French) embassy protects her,” Macron said while visiting a reception center for Ukrainian refugees. He also wants to talk regarding this “very directly” in his next phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “France condemns any imprisonment of journalists,” Macron said.
“Wow that girl is cool”
The imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexej Navalny, who recently had repeatedly called for protests once morest the war, welcomed the protest action. His spokeswoman Kira Jarmisch wrote on Twitter: “Wow, the girl is cool.” Jarmisch uploaded the video, which was quickly viewed by more than 2.6 million people. Navalny’s team announced that they would support the TV editor.