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

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

Maria Alyokhina and her fellow band members first came to the eye of the Russian authorities after staging a protest in opposition to 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 talk out against the Kremlin chief, with Ms Alyokhina remaining decided to combat Mr Putin's system.

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

After being released from prison, she continued her activism and set up a news outlet centered on crime and punishment in Russia, called Mediazona, with one other member of the band.

In April, Russian authorities positioned her beneath home arrest as they tried to cease these within 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 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 help of an artist from Iceland, who secured her journey documents.

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

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

"I nonetheless don't perceive fully what I've completed."

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

Ms Alyokhina added: "I don't suppose Russia has a proper to exist anymore.

"Even earlier than, there were questions on how it is united, by what values it's united, and the place it is going. But now I do not think that is a query anymore."

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