Pussy Riot band member Maria Alyokhina escapes Russia dressed as food courier after criticising Putin | World News

Political activist and member of the Russian band Pussy Riot has reportedly fled the country disguised as a food courier after criticising Vladimir Putin.

Maria Alyokhina and her fellow band members first got here to the eye of the Russian authorities after staging a protest towards the Russian president inside Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in 2012.

Despite being sentenced to 2 years in jail for his or her activism, the group continued to speak out in opposition to the Kremlin chief, with Ms Alyokhina remaining determined to combat Mr Putin's system.

Russian air defences struck by Bayraktar drones - live updates on Ukraine conflict

After being released from jail, she continued her activism and arrange a information outlet focused on crime and punishment in Russia, known as Mediazona, with another member of the band.

In April, Russian authorities placed her underneath home arrest as they tried to cease those within the country who opposed their invasion of Ukraine.

The 33-year-old was then ordered to spend 21 days in a penal colony.

Nevertheless, the band chief managed to evade the Moscow police by disguising herself as a food courier and leaving her phone behind as a decoy.

She was then able to cross into Lithuania after in search of the assistance of an artist from Iceland, who secured her journey documents.

Read extra:
Biden fears Putin has no exit technique from Ukraine
Physique language knowledgeable offers assessment of Putin's behaviour

Comparing her story to a "spy novel", Ms Alyokhina advised The New York Times: "I used to be glad that I made it, as a result of it was an unpredictable and massive kiss-off to the Russian authorities.

"I nonetheless do not understand utterly what I've completed."

Subscribe to Ukraine Warfare Diaries on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Spreaker

Ms Alyokhina added: "I do not think Russia has a proper to exist anymore.

"Even earlier than, there were questions about how it's united, by what values it's united, and the place it's going. But now I don't think that could be a query anymore."

In 2019, fellow bandmate Nadya Tolokonikova spoke to Sky News about her time in a jail camp and protests taking place in Russia.