Pussy Riot band member Maria Alyokhina escapes Russia dressed as food 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 prison for his or her activism, the group continued to speak out towards the Kremlin leader, with Ms Alyokhina remaining decided to fight Mr Putin's system.

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After being released from jail, 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 beneath house 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 leader managed to evade the Moscow police by disguising herself as a meals courier and leaving her cellphone behind as a decoy.

She was then able to 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 instructed The New York Occasions: "I used to be completely happy that I made it, because it was an unpredictable and big kiss-off to the Russian authorities.

"I still don't perceive fully what I've completed."

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

"Even before, there have been questions on how it is united, by what values it's united, and the place it's going. However now I do not think that may be a question anymore."

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