Though Ovsyannikova received a fine for interrupting a TV broadcast, a report claims she could still face further charges with a stiffer penalty.
A Moscow court on Tuesday handed down a fine of 30,000 rubles ($280) to Marina Ovsyannikova for storming a live television broadcast on Monday with a sign that contained anti-war messages. However, a report from a Russia state news agency suggests she could still be subjected to more consequences, including a jail sentence. Ovsyannikova made headlines across the world after she interrupted a broadcast on Channel One, Russia’s largest state television station. The news anchor attempted to speak over Ovsyannikova, who made statements protesting Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘s military attacks on Ukraine. Following her protest, Ovsyannikova’s name was uncovered by media outlets, who also found she worked at the station and had recorded a video message on social media earlier in the day denouncing the war. The fine she received was based on an administrative charge, similar to a misdemeanor in the U.S., for violating the country’s protest laws. But the Russian news agency TASS reported she could potentially face more charges. TASS cited a law enforcement source as saying the Russian Investigative Committee had opened a preliminary inquiry on Ovsyannikova to determine whether her actions broke a new law passed after the Ukrainian invasion in which “fake news” reporting could be punished by stiff penalties.
