Judicial reprisals are endless for Russian journalist Marina Ovsyannikova.

Since her return to Moscow, the young woman has been intimidated by the authorities and redoubled her efforts, in the face of criticism, to prove the sincerity of her opposition to the conflict in Ukraine.

This Monday, she is to be tried again for "discrediting" the army.

On March 14, she interrupted live the newspaper of the first Russian channel where she worked, Pervy Kanal, with a sign against the offensive launched by Vladimir Putin.

A gesture that went around the world and changed his life.

After this coup, she announced that she would stay in Russia, but finally joined the Die Welt media in Germany for three months.

A forced return to Russia

While she was away, her ex-husband, an employee of the pro-Kremlin broadcaster RT, sued her to deprive her of custody of her two children and prevent her from taking them abroad.

Consequently, Marina Ovsiannikova, 44, told AFP that she had made "the difficult decision" to return to Russia in early July.

The one who lived comfortably working 19 years for state television is now one of the last voices in Russia to loudly condemn the conflict in Ukraine.

Other influential critics are imprisoned, keep a low profile, or are in exile.

Since her return from exile, she has come to support imprisoned opponent Ilia Yachine in court, demonstrated not far from the Kremlin with a sign calling Putin a "killer", and regularly publishes messages online denouncing power.

Despite the risks, she also continues to participate in news programs broadcast by Russian opponents on social networks.

Already two trials and a fine

Because of her criticism, she was briefly arrested in mid-July by police near her home and fined in two trials for statements against the offensive in Ukraine.

In addition, Marina Ovsiannikova still faces hostility from part of the Russian opposition and Ukrainians who accuse her of having been a "propagandist", and that of the pro-Kremlin who consider her a traitor.

It remains to be seen whether his activism will earn him criminal prosecution for "disseminating false information" about the army, a crime punishable by 15 years in prison.

Dozens of people are already prosecuted in Russia for this reason.

On this point, she is torn between hope and fatalism.

According to her, the power could be reluctant not to give more echo to her famous protest on television, and because she says she has “solid international support”.

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