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 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 two years in prison for their activism, the group continued to speak out against the Kremlin chief, with Ms Alyokhina remaining determined to combat 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, called Mediazona, with one other member of the band.

In April, Russian authorities placed her underneath house arrest as they tried to stop those within the nation 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 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 advised The New York Occasions: "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 nonetheless don't perceive utterly what I've finished."

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

"Even earlier than, there were questions on how it is united, by what values it is united, and where it's going. But now I do not assume that could be a question anymore."

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