Marina Ovsyannikova, the Russian television editor who flashed an anti-war protest sign on state-run Channel One television on Monday, was a former collegiate swimmer in Russia.
Ovsyannikova, who appeared in court in Moscow on Tuesday after her lawyers said they didn’t know where she was previously, held a sign behind a live television broadcast that read:
NO WAR. [in English]
Stop the war. Don’t believe the propaganda. They are lying to you here. [in Russian]
Russians against War [in English]
She also shouted “Stop the war. No to war,” in the background as newscaster Ekaterina Andreeva continued to read the news from a teleprompter. The message was aired for a few seconds before the station cut away to a different report.
Ovsyannikova began swimming at the age of 6, she said in a 2002 interview, and was good enough to compete at the top level of Russian youth swimming, as well as for her university team. There, she was a university champion of the Krasnodar territory.
In the interview, she said she continues to swim occasionally in the pool. Her Instagram bio still mentions swimming, and she claims to have swum across the Volga River in Russia and the Bosphorus Strait in Turkey.
Before her arrest, Ovsyannikova released a statement saying that the war in Russia is a crime, and that the blame falls fully on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
English translation of Marina Ovsyannikova's statement before her on-air protest and subsequent arrest tonight.@JuliaDavisNews subs pic.twitter.com/qs28QcgHM9
— Expat in Kyiv (@expatua) March 14, 2022
The 44-year old currently lives in Moscow and has two children.
Her statement on one of Russia’s most-watched television channels has earned her global attention – but also puts her in danger at home. A Russian crackdown on anti-war protesters has led to “tens of thousands” of arrests, including celebrities, with some facing charges as serious as treason.
Russian civilians are oppressed by their government as well in this war , as you can see with Marina.
She is a brave person who fully understands the consequences of her protest. And nevertheless she did it. Unfortunately there is no way to help her and we will never hear her voice again in any news broadcasts. And one of the reason of that is that she still doesn’t understand what her country became now: she blames this dread on one person only.
Until 1861 this country kept more than 70% of its population in slavery. Then poor reform came but nothing has change in reality. Then Bolshevik’s regime made practically all citizens of huge country the slaves of FEAR. And after a short few periods of “fresh air” it all came back.
Don’t be confused what… Read more »
and any other nation….
Christian Europeans with blue eyes are now called “refugees”
Muslims, who don’t look like Europeans are called “immigrants”
Ok, got it. Welcome to Fortnite.
Yea the news cycle has definitely never focused on Palestine, Iraq, or Syria ever.
Difference being the Ukrainian defending his land & rightly so is called a hero.
Just like this former swimmer come journalist is one brave lady & deserves our love & admiration.
Those defending their land in their respective countries in Palestine, Iraq & Syria are not called heroes but are the villains.
Memba when the majority of those Syrian refugees were 20-40 year old men many with children who were unrelated to them… Pepperidge farm remembers
“Here, let me hijack the comments section to drive home my pet political point.”
The words “refugee” and “immigrant” appeared nowhere in this post until you decided to interject them.
I think the manner of his statement was bad, but that’s kinda the point. We should support Ukrainians, but now is also a good time to examine the media propaganda machine, and how their rhetoric in support of Ukraine now is different to that of other countries that the United States has an imperialist vendetta against.
1000%. i hope we all learn from that.
“Muslims, who don’t look like Europeans are called “immigrants””
If you are referring to Hungary. But not the rest of Europe. You are knowingly lying
I mean didnt german let in a million refugees from Syria lol?
You are so obviously a troll. Deflect deflect deflect because you know there is no possible way to defend your point of view. Stop being puppet
I agree with your point, but you come across as a jerk. Ukraine is not smiling and having a good time.
The amount of courage this must have taken, especially when she has two children. I can’t even imagine how scared she must have been and I don’t want to imagine what is happening to ger right now…
I met a Ukranian couple today, around 65 maybe, just outside Vienna. They asked for directions and we talked a bit until I asked them where they were from. I almost cried when they told me that they were staying with a work colleague and that they are hoping it’s only temporary. I felt so helpless, I asked if I could give them a hug. Which feels ridiculous now, reading what this woman has done! We should all be so brave and… Read more »
I just saw the brief interview of the father who returned back after his 23 years old son was killed in Kharkiv. It is impossible to not be touched by his grief. He was begging Russian young boys to not come to Ukraine because he will kill them and this bloodshed will be going on and on.
Real actions are needed. Hugging does nothing. It may make you feel good about yourself but it won’t stop killing both Russian and Ukrainian young lives. Russia has to be isolated politically, economically, culturally. That is the only way to stop military escalation and let the aggressor to think twice about the consequences.
“Peaceful, civilized countries”
You’re not wrong. The West has some serious skeletons in its clostets and we continue to be awful. And you’re right for making fun of our selective outrage. But if you’re trying to imply that this justifies what is happening in Ukraine, you’re no better.
He/she is no better without any “IF”.
Deflect deflect deflect. Literally the only thing you are capable of because your take is so dumb. Honestly it’s kinda pathetic
I fear for her life
Ah yes, a totally sane response to a journalist being arrested in Russia is to post anti-NATO propaganda.
Don’t feed the troll let the mods deal with it if it really goes too far. Better to not give attention to this people who don’t add anything to the discussion
Absolute bozo meme usage. Go touch grass
Should we ban french and british athletes for colonizing a whole continent just couple decades ago ? No Flo Manaudou, no Peaty?
Do you think the US and NATO are “ angels 👼” and Russia and China are evil 👿” ?
No, but I do think democracies are better than authoritarian regimes.
Never seen someone, who’s supporting colonization. Lol 😂
#PrayForYourBrain #Brainwashed
Believe it or not it’s possible to be against French/British imperialism and Russian imperialism at the same time.
ssshhh nuance is not a strong suit for many swimswam commenters
It’s good to see both sides of the coin.
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You can argue against neo-colonialism in Africa and all around the world but comparing it to the invasion of a neighboring, sovereign country, in an effort to occupy, for no legitimate reason.
Timing is everything. you don’t this type of things NOW. We were ok to do this ourselves BEFORE. Important distinction.
And Republics are better than Democracies.(Mob Rule)
you seem to forget we have a highly imperfect democracy here…. an indirect democracy is seen… by the rest of the world as “not a real democracy”. I agree real democracies are better than the rest… not sure we live in one of them completely.
Grow up.