Russian journalists wrote down Putin during "Victory Day"

During the annual celebration of "Victory Day" in memory of Nazi Germany's capitulation, journalists Alexandra Miroshnikova and Egor Polyakov published Kremlin - critical articles on the website of the pro-regime newspaper Lenta.

Lenta is one of Russia's largest newspapers and usually follows the Kremlin's worldview in its news reporting.

The articles describe Vladimir Putin as a "pitiful dictator" who started "the bloodiest war of the 21st century". 

Risks up to 15 years in prison

Since the outbreak of the war, it is illegal to spread information about the war that does not come from official Russian sources and the punishment can be up to 15 years in prison.

In an interview with The Guardian, Egor Poljakov admits that he is afraid of what will happen next, but that he was aware of what he did and what the consequences could be.

"We could not accept this anymore.

This was the only right thing we could do, ”he says.

The articles were quickly removed by the Russian censorship authority Roskomnadzor, but can still be read through a web history tool, which The Guardian links to.