Marina Ovsyannikova, the former Russian state TV journalist who captured global attention with her on-air protest against the war in Ukraine, has been hospitalized in Paris after a suspected poisoning incident. The 45-year-old activist and journalist, who fled Russia with her daughter in 2022, called emergency services after suddenly falling ill outside her Paris apartment, prompting a French police investigation into the incident.
Marina Ovsyannikova's protest took place in March of the previous year when she dramatically interrupted a live broadcast on Russian state TV to denounce the ongoing war in Ukraine. During the broadcast, she held up a sign written in both English and Russian that conveyed a clear message:
"No war. Russians against war" in English.
In Russian, it read:
"NO WAR. Stop the war. Don't believe propaganda. They are lying to you here."
Her bold act of defiance garnered international attention and prompted her exit from her role as the editor of the Vremya nightly news program.
Since leaving her position at Russian state TV, Ovsyannikova transformed into an outspoken anti-war activist. She staged anti-war pickets and consistently spoke out against the conflict in Ukraine. Her activism led to legal consequences, including fines for violating protest laws. One such fine amounted to RUB 30,000, equivalent to around $270 at the time.
In August of the preceding year, Russian authorities raided Ovsyannikova's home and placed her under house arrest. Fearing further persecution, she made the difficult decision to escape to Europe, seeking refuge in France with her daughter.
Just recently, a Moscow court sentenced Marina Ovsyannikova to eight and a half years in prison in absentia. The charges against her were related to allegations of spreading false information about the Russian army.
The French capital's prosecutor's office has confirmed that Ovsyannikova is now under medical care after a sudden illness and her own suspicions of poisoning. French authorities are investigating the incident, and a thorough examination of her Paris apartment is currently underway.
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