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 attention of the Russian authorities after staging a protest against the Russian president inside Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in 2012.

Regardless of being sentenced to two years in jail for his or her activism, the group continued to speak out against the Kremlin leader, with Ms Alyokhina remaining determined to combat Mr Putin's system.

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After being released from jail, she continued her activism and arrange a information outlet targeted on crime and punishment in Russia, called Mediazona, with another member of the band.

In April, Russian authorities positioned her below home arrest as they tried to stop these 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 chief managed to evade the Moscow police by disguising herself as a meals courier and leaving her telephone 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 informed The New York Times: "I was completely satisfied that I made it, as a result of it was an unpredictable and big kiss-off to the Russian authorities.

"I nonetheless do not perceive completely what I've done."

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

"Even earlier than, there were questions on how it is united, by what values it is united, and the place it is going. However now I don't suppose that is a query anymore."

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