A Russian journalist who last month protested Russia's invasion of Ukraine by interrupting a live news broadcast on Russian state television has been hired by a German media company.
Marina Ovsyannikova has taken a job working as a freelance correspondent for Die Welt, the media group announced on April 11.
Ovsyannikova, 43, will report from Ukraine, Russia, and other places for the Die Welt newspaper and for the news outlet's TV channel.
Ovsyannikova burst onto the set of the Vremya news program on Russia's Channel One on March 14, holding a poster reading in part “Stop the war. Don’t believe propaganda. They are lying to you” in Russian. She also shouted in Russian "Stop the war. No to war."
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Russian TV News Hit By Anti-War Protest In Studio
Ovsyannikova, who was a producer with Channel One at the time of her protest, published her first opinion piece in Die Welt's online edition on April 11. Titled The Russians Are Afraid, the piece discussed the consequences of her protest.
While it triggered a wave of support worldwide, the Kremlin condemned her action. She has been charged with "discrediting" the armed forces.
She may face a fine of up to 50,000 rubles (more than $500) if found guilty and could face harsher repercussions for her actions under a new law that makes the distribution of "false information about Russian armed forces" punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Ulf Poschardt, editor in chief of the Welt Group and spokesman for the management of WeltN24 said Ovsyannikova had the courage to confront Russian viewers at a crucial moment with an "unembellished view" of reality.
“In doing so, she defended the most important journalistic ethics -- despite the threat of state repression. I am excited to be working with her,” Poschardt said.
Her job with Die Welt will afford her more visibility and therefore her security will improve, he told the dpa news agency.
Poschardt denied that Die Welt was trying to send a political signal to President Vladimir Putin by hiring Ovsyannikova.
"We do journalism, not politics," he said. "Good, courageous, incorruptible journalism is a threat to every autocrat and dictator. It is also a threat to those who narrow the corridor of opinion in open societies like ours."