Marina Ovsyannikova will work for the German Welt

Marina Ovsyannikova, the journalist who protested against Putin’s war in Ukraine during a Russian pro-government news program, has a new post. She will work for the media of the German newspaper Welt as a freelance correspondent, “with immediate effect,” as publisher Axel Springer said in a statement, explaining that the reporter will cover both Russian and Ukrainian news. According to the publisher, Ovsyannikova will regularly contribute to her all news TV channel, as well as write for the newspaper and site. The 43-year-old made the headlines when on March 14 she walked past cameras capturing the news host of the partially state-controlled channel Perwy kanal, holding a sign denouncing the invasion of Ukraine and Putin’s propaganda. “Stop the war. Don’t believe the propaganda. Here they are lying to you”, read the writing on the raised sign of the journalist who was then arrested and interrogated for 14 hours, and finally fined 30,000 rubles (about 255 euros) for her protest. Making the announcement, Ulf Poschardt, director of the WELT Group, underlined how “In a crucial moment, Marina Ovsyannikova had the courage to confront Russian spectators with a simple vision of reality. In doing so, you defended the most important journalistic ethics, despite the threat of state repression ”. And he added: “I am thrilled to work with her.” On her part, Ovsyannikova described the Welt Group as an example of “what is being so vehemently defended by the brave Ukrainian people on the ground right now: freedom”.