Channel One editor surprises all of Russia with her live TV protest

The Investigative Committee of Russia filed investigation into Channel One employee Marina Ovsyannikova, who broke into the live broadcast of the Vremya (Time) news program.

The committee is conducting investigation to establish corpus delicti in the actions committed by Marina Ovsyannikova under article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Public dissemination of knowingly false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation”).

All materials of the case were submitted to the Investigative Committee. A source told TASS news agency that there was no administrative case filed against the woman. Most likely, this refers to Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses — discrediting the armed forces.

On the evening of Monday, March 14, Marina Ovsyannikova broke into the studio of the Vremya news program. She stood behind TV host Ekaterina Andreeva with a sign calling for an end to Russia's special operation in Ukraine. After the incident, the employee of the TV channel was detained.

Ovsyannikova's poster said:

"No war. Do not believe the propaganda. You are being lied to here."

Ukrainian President Zelensky thanked Ovsyannikova for her act.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the incident during the Vremya news program.

"Channel One is a brand, just like our leading TV channels. This is a brand of high-quality, timely, prompt and objective information. As for this woman, well, this is hooliganism. The channel and other relevant agencies are looking into it. This is not on our agenda," Peskov told reporters.

The Ostankinsky District Court found Ovsyannikova guilty under Part 2 of Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (organization of an uncoordinated public event). This administrative case is not directly related to the fact that she appeared with a poster on Channel One live news program.

The case was filed in connection with a video address that Ovsyannikova delivered. In her address, she, among other things, "urged an unlimited circle of people to participate in an unapproved public event," the police report says. The judge said that Ovsyannikova "assumed the role of an organizer of a public event."

Marina Ovsyannikova was not arrested. The court ordered her to pay the fine of 30,000 rubles for her act ($285).