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Staffer interrupts Russia broadcast with anti-war protest sign, shouting ‘stop the war!’

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A TV editor interrupted a live broadcast at Channel One Russia, a state owned media outlet, with an anti-war message.

Marina Ovsyannikova, who works as a producer at Channel One and has previously expressed misgivings about her participation in producing what many consider propaganda, walked behind host Ekaterina Andreeva as she was attempting to read a segment.

Ovsyannikova carried a sign that read, in a blend of English and Russian, “Stop the war. Don’t believe the propaganda. They’re lying to you.” She shouted “Stop the war! No to war!”

Andreeva attempted to continue the segment before the control room switched to a video clip.

Ovsyannikova was detained by Russian authorities and was later seen in court. Human rights group Russian OVD-Info, who has ties to Ovsyannikova, said it would be providing legal counsel for her.

Later, reports began to surface that Ovsyannikova’s whereabouts could not be determined after being arrested. She was later released from jail after being fined and spending over 14 hours being interrogated, according to her account.

Channel One operates out of a facility called Ostankino Technical Center and is the country’s largest media outlet, reaching an estimated 250 million people around the world.

However, because it is state owned, its is widely considered to be questionable.

The incident happened in what appears to be a working newsroom set, while may have played a role in how Ovsyannikova, who would have likely also had clearance to be in the space as an employee of the network, was able to walk on to the set so easily.

Prior to the incident, Ovsyannikova recorded a video saying she was “deeply ashamed” to be part of what she called propaganda.

“What is happening in Ukraine is a crime and Russia is the aggressor. Responsibility for that aggression lies on the conscience of only one person. That person is Vladimir Putin,” she said.

Ovsyannikova noted her father is Ukrainian and her mother is Russia and “they were never enemies.”

Sharp eyed viewers also noted that she was wearing a necklace that contained another, more subtle message than her sign and chanting.

“The necklace around my neck is a symbol that Russia must immediately stop this brother killing war and our brother peoples can yet reconcile,” she said in the video.

Ovsyannikova is being hailed as “brave” by journalists around the world as well as multiple groups involved in journalism rights and safety of journalists.

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