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

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

Maria Alyokhina and her fellow band members first got here 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 their activism, the group continued to talk out against the Kremlin chief, with Ms Alyokhina remaining decided to struggle Mr Putin's system.

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

After being released from jail, she continued her activism and arrange a news outlet targeted on crime and punishment in Russia, called Mediazona, with another member of the band.

In April, Russian authorities placed her underneath home arrest as they tried to stop these in 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 food courier and leaving her cellphone behind as a decoy.

She was then able to cross into Lithuania after looking for the assistance of an artist from Iceland, who secured her journey paperwork.

Learn more:
Biden fears Putin has no exit strategy from Ukraine
Body language skilled gives assessment of Putin's behaviour

Evaluating her story to a "spy novel", Ms Alyokhina advised The New York Times: "I used to be comfortable that I made it, because it was an unpredictable and massive kiss-off to the Russian authorities.

"I nonetheless don't understand fully what I've carried out."

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

Ms Alyokhina added: "I do not assume Russia has a right to exist anymore.

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

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