Pussy Riot band member Maria Alyokhina escapes Russia dressed as meals courier after criticising Putin | World News

Political activist and member of the Russian band Pussy Riot has reportedly fled the nation disguised as a food courier after criticising Vladimir Putin.

Maria Alyokhina and her fellow band members first came to the eye of the Russian authorities after staging a protest towards the Russian president inside Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in 2012.

Despite being sentenced to 2 years in jail for their activism, the group continued to speak out against the Kremlin chief, with Ms Alyokhina remaining determined to combat Mr Putin's system.

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After being launched from prison, she continued her activism and arrange a news outlet focused on crime and punishment in Russia, referred to as Mediazona, with one other member of the band.

In April, Russian authorities positioned her beneath home arrest as they tried to cease those within the nation who opposed their invasion of Ukraine.

The 33-year-old was then ordered to spend 21 days in a penal colony.

However, the band leader managed to evade the Moscow police by disguising herself as a food courier and leaving her cellphone behind as a decoy.

She was then in a position to cross into Lithuania after in search of the help of an artist from Iceland, who secured her travel documents.

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Comparing her story to a "spy novel", Ms Alyokhina advised The New York Instances: "I was blissful that I made it, because it was an unpredictable and massive kiss-off to the Russian authorities.

"I nonetheless do not understand completely what I've accomplished."

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Ms Alyokhina added: "I don't suppose Russia has a right to exist anymore.

"Even earlier than, there have been questions about how it's united, by what values it is united, and where it's going. However now I do not suppose that could be a query anymore."

In 2019, fellow bandmate Nadya Tolokonikova spoke to Sky Information about her time in a prison camp and protests taking place in Russia.