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 meals 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 prison for their activism, the group continued to speak out against the Kremlin chief, with Ms Alyokhina remaining decided to fight Mr Putin's system.

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After being launched from jail, she continued her activism and set up a information outlet focused on crime and punishment in Russia, called Mediazona, with one other member of the band.

In April, Russian authorities placed her below house arrest as they tried to cease those in 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 meals courier and leaving her phone behind as a decoy.

She was then capable of cross into Lithuania after looking for 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 told The New York Occasions: "I used to be glad that I made it, because it was an unpredictable and big kiss-off to the Russian authorities.

"I still do not understand completely what I've completed."

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Ms Alyokhina added: "I do not suppose Russia has a proper to exist anymore.

"Even earlier than, there have been questions on how it is united, by what values it is united, and where it's going. However now I don't assume that is a query anymore."

In 2019, fellow bandmate Nadya Tolokonikova spoke to Sky Information about her time in a jail camp and protests going down in Russia.