Ovsyannikova an editor at the Russian state-run Channel One, in a viral video on Monday held a sign on the air that read, “Stop the War. Don’t believe in propaganda. They’re lying to you.” By Tuesday morning, Dmitry Zakhvotov, a lawyer for Ovsyannikova, told CNN he’s been trying to locate her since the protest but doesn’t know where she is.
Ovsyannikova appeared in court with her lawyer late on Tuesday, and according to Reuters, she was fined about 30,000 roubles, or $280.
Another lawyer, Anastasis Kostanova, told BBC News she “spent the whole night looking” for Ovsyannikova but hasn’t been able to reach her.
“This means that they are hiding her from her lawyers and trying to deprive her of legal assistance and apparently they are trying to prepare the most stringent prosecution,” Kostanova told BBC News, while attorney Pavel Chikov tweeted, she “has not yet been found” and “has been imprisoned for more than 12 hours.” Osyannikova was reportedly detained after the protest.
In addition to the sign, Ovsyannikova also recorded a video message, saying she’s “ashamed” to be spreading Kremlin propaganda and that “what is happening in Ukraine is a crime.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Ovsyannikova and others who “don’t stop trying to deliver the truth, who are fighting against disinformation and tell real facts to their friends and families.”