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 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 jail for his or her activism, the group continued to speak out against the Kremlin chief, with Ms Alyokhina remaining determined to fight Mr Putin's system.

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After being launched from prison, she continued her activism and set up a information outlet focused on crime and punishment in Russia, referred to as Mediazona, with one other member of the band.

In April, Russian authorities positioned her beneath house arrest as they tried to cease those 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 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 seeking the help of an artist from Iceland, who secured her travel paperwork.

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Comparing her story to a "spy novel", Ms Alyokhina informed The New York Times: "I was glad that I made it, because it was an unpredictable and big kiss-off to the Russian authorities.

"I still don't understand utterly what I've carried out."

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

"Even earlier than, there were questions on how it is united, by what values it's united, and where it's going. But now I don't think that could be a question anymore."

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