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

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 came to the attention of the Russian authorities after staging a protest against the Russian president inside Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in 2012.

Despite being sentenced to two years in prison for his or her activism, the group continued to speak out against the Kremlin leader, with Ms Alyokhina remaining determined to fight Mr Putin's system.

Russian air defences struck by Bayraktar drones - reside updates on Ukraine battle

After being launched from jail, she continued her activism and arrange a news outlet centered on crime and punishment in Russia, known as Mediazona, with one other member of the band.

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

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

Nonetheless, the band leader managed to evade the Moscow police by disguising herself as a meals courier and leaving her cellphone behind as a decoy.

She was then in a position 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 strategy from Ukraine
Body language skilled provides evaluation of Putin's behaviour

Comparing her story to a "spy novel", Ms Alyokhina advised The New York Occasions: "I used to be pleased that I made it, because 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 Conflict Diaries on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Spreaker

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

"Even before, there were questions on how it's united, by what values it's united, and the place it is going. But now I don't think that is a question anymore."

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