Marina Ovsyannikova
War protest: Russian journalist fears arrest
The Russian journalist Marina Owsjannikova during an interview with the German Press Agency. Photo: Annette Riedl/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
A few seconds made her world famous: In March, the journalist Owsjannikova protested against the war in Ukraine live on Russian television. Three months later she is in trouble, as she says in the dpa interview.
The journalist Marina Owsjannikova, who became known for her war protests on Russian television, is considering staying in Germany permanently.
“I cannot return to Russia, under any circumstances, because – as far as I know – I will be arrested immediately,” the 44-year-old told the German Press Agency in an interview in Berlin. “I feel pretty safe in Germany. But I’m constantly exposed to bullying and hate on social networks.”
The then editor of Russian state television showed a protest poster against the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine in a live broadcast on Channel One on March 14. It read: ‘Stop the war. Don’t believe the propaganda. Here you will be lied to». She received worldwide recognition for this. The Kremlin in Moscow condemned the action. The journalist received fines.
Ovzyannikova: “I’m not fake”
Now the Kremlin is systematically trying to undermine their credibility, Ovsyannikova told the dpa: “I’m in a difficult position. The Kremlin wants to tell everyone, don’t believe this person, he’s fake, that wasn’t a real protest. When I was still in Russia they said: She is a British agent. When I leave Russia, they say: She’s a Russian agent, don’t believe her.” But she added: “I’m not fake.”
Ukraine also has doubts about its credibility. She wanted to report there on Russian war crimes, but she was not allowed to work in Ukraine. The journalist said her work with the German “Welt” group had also ended. “I have no job.”
Her two children are in Moscow, she added. Her ex-husband wants to take legal action to ensure that she is never allowed to see her daughter and son again. She is bullied on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. “That’s why my situation is very complicated, but I’m trying not to lose optimism.”
Lots of approval from Russians: “Yes, that’s how it is.”
She still thinks her protest action is right, added the journalist. “I would do it again. I won’t take back one of my words. Despite everything, my protest had an effect. I got a lot of messages from Russians saying: «Yes, that’s the way it is. We’ve been waiting for it.” The fact that there is hardly any public criticism of the attack on Ukraine in Russia is due to the fear of draconian penalties.
The Russian does not expect an end to the Russian war in Ukraine for the time being. “It will go on without interruption for a long time,” she said. “There is only one way to change the situation: another president in Russia.”
Ovsyannikova spoke on the sidelines of the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society in Berlin. This is a conference that wants to increase the influence of women in politics. Among other things, participants formulated demands for the G7 summit at the weekend in Elmau.