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 attention of the Russian authorities after staging a protest in opposition to the Russian president inside Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in 2012.

Regardless of being sentenced to 2 years in jail for their activism, the group continued to speak out towards the Kremlin leader, with Ms Alyokhina remaining determined to battle 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, known as Mediazona, with one other member of the band.

In April, Russian authorities positioned her underneath house arrest as they tried to stop these within the country who opposed their invasion of Ukraine.

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

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

She was then capable of cross into Lithuania after seeking the assistance 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 used to be completely happy that I made it, as a result of it was an unpredictable and massive kiss-off to the Russian authorities.

"I still don't understand fully what I've achieved."

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

"Even before, there have been questions about how it is united, by what values it is united, and where it is going. But now I don't suppose that may be a query anymore."

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