Pussy Riot band member Maria Alyokhina escapes Russia dressed as food 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 towards the Russian president inside Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in 2012.

Despite being sentenced to two 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 targeted on crime and punishment in Russia, known as Mediazona, with one other member of the band.

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

She was then capable of cross into Lithuania after looking for the assistance of an artist from Iceland, who secured her travel paperwork.

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Evaluating her story to a "spy novel", Ms Alyokhina advised The New York Times: "I used to be happy that I made it, as a result of it was an unpredictable and large kiss-off to the Russian authorities.

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

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Ms Alyokhina added: "I do not 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 is going. However now I don't think that could 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.