Marina Ovsiannikova, the journalist who denounced the war in Ukraine in full Russian television news, testifies

Since Monday March 14, her face has been around the world. Marina Ovsiannikova43, is the journalist who, on the first Russian channel, held up a poster opposing what is called in Russia “the special operation in Ukraine”. “It was like an impulse. (…) I thought 90% that my sacrifice would be useless and that no one would see me”she tells the special envoys of France Télévisions, in Moscow (Russia).

This gesture, she has gradually matured since February 24, the day the first Russian troops entered Ukraine. A point of no return according to her: “It was an incredible shock to me. I couldn’t eat or drink or sleep, I had the idea of ​​doing a remarkable action, to tell the whole world that there were Russians who were against the war.“

While almost 20 years she worked for Russian state television. A media who, she assures, receives her orders from power. In today’s Russia, his gesture as much as his freedom of speech can surprise.
Some accuse her of being manipulated. The journalist denies in block: “I’m just a normal Russian woman who decided to express her position as a citizen.”

After 14 hours of interrogation and a first hearing, she was released on Tuesday March 15. But, for her gesture, she still risks 15 years in prison. “I don’t plan for the future“, she warns. Despite the risks, she says she does not want to leave Russia and assures that she is ready to continue her commitment.