Pussy Riot band member Maria Alyokhina escapes Russia dressed as meals courier after criticising Putin | World Information

Political activist and member of the Russian band Pussy Riot has reportedly fled the nation disguised as a meals 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 towards the Russian president inside Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in 2012.

Regardless of being sentenced to 2 years in jail for their activism, the group continued to talk out in opposition to the Kremlin chief, 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 set up a news outlet targeted on crime and punishment in Russia, known as Mediazona, with another member of the band.

In April, Russian authorities positioned her beneath home arrest as they tried to cease these within 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 food courier and leaving her telephone behind as a decoy.

She was then able to cross into Lithuania after seeking the assistance of an artist from Iceland, who secured her journey documents.

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

"I nonetheless do not understand completely what I've carried out."

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Ms Alyokhina added: "I do not suppose Russia has a right to exist anymore.

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

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