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 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 in opposition to 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 in opposition to the Kremlin chief, with Ms Alyokhina remaining determined to battle Mr Putin's system.

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After being launched from prison, she continued her activism and set up a information outlet targeted on crime and punishment in Russia, known as Mediazona, with one other member of the band.

In April, Russian authorities placed her beneath house arrest as they tried to stop these within the country 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 travel paperwork.

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Comparing her story to a "spy novel", Ms Alyokhina advised The New York Instances: "I was pleased that I made it, because it was an unpredictable and big kiss-off to the Russian authorities.

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

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

"Even earlier than, there were questions about how it's united, by what values it's united, and where it's going. But now I don't suppose that could be a question anymore."

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