Russian authorities have launched “a preliminary inquiry” about the editor Marina Ovsyannikova who interrupted Russian Channel One’s live news broadcast by holding up a sign protesting against the war in Ukraine. “The woman is currently in custody”, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported. She was later released after having been fined Rouble 30 000 (around Euro 2 500). She told the BBC she had been questioned for 14 hours and not been given any legal help.

TASS quoted “a source in the law enforcement agency” and reported that “A preliminary inquiry is being conducted regarding Ovsyannikova to determine whether her actions constitute a crime under Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code (‘Public dissemination of deliberately false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation’),”

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”According to the source, no administrative case was initiated against her, and the materials were transferred to the Investigative Committee.”

TASS said the source had told the news agency that the woman is a native of Odessa.

Reuters reported that Ravina Shamdasani, U.N. human rights spokesperson told a Geneva news briefing that Russian authorities should ensure that the woman “does not face any reprisals for exercising her right to freedom of expression”.