Ovsyannikova spent the night in police custody and on Tuesday Moscow’s Ostankino District Court ordered Ovsyannikova to pay a fine of 30,000 roubles (about $390) on charges of organising unsanctioned actions for her call to take part in demonstrations against the war.
The Investigative Committee,Russia’s top state investigative agency,is also conducting a probe against Ovsyanikova on charges of publicly spreading false information about the Russian military — new punitive legislation adopted a day after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. If convicted of that charge,she could face up to 15 years in prison.
Speaking in a video address early Tuesday,Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Ovsyannikova for her courage.
Asked about Ovsyannikova’s action,Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described her move as “hooliganism,” noting that interference with a live broadcast is a serious offence.
Several people with expertise on Russia have expressed scepticism about Ovsyannikova’s video.