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 country 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 against the Russian president inside Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in 2012.

Despite being sentenced to 2 years in prison for his or her activism, the group continued to talk out against the Kremlin leader, with Ms Alyokhina remaining determined to combat Mr Putin's system.

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After being released 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 below house arrest as they tried to cease 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.

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

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

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Evaluating her story to a "spy novel", Ms Alyokhina informed The New York Occasions: "I used to be completely satisfied that I made it, because it was an unpredictable and big kiss-off to the Russian authorities.

"I nonetheless do not perceive utterly what I've finished."

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

"Even earlier than, there were questions about how it's united, by what values it is united, and where it's going. But now I don't think that could be a question anymore."

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