Pussy Riot band member Maria Alyokhina escapes Russia dressed as food 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 towards 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 against the Kremlin leader, with Ms Alyokhina remaining decided to struggle Mr Putin's system.

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After being launched from jail, she continued her activism and arrange a information outlet targeted on crime and punishment in Russia, called Mediazona, with one other member of the band.

In April, Russian authorities positioned her underneath house arrest as they tried to stop these in 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 meals courier and leaving her cellphone 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 documents.

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Comparing her story to a "spy novel", Ms Alyokhina informed The New York Times: "I was pleased that I made it, as a result of it was an unpredictable and large kiss-off to the Russian authorities.

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

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Ms Alyokhina added: "I do not assume Russia has a proper to exist anymore.

"Even earlier than, there have been questions about how it's united, by what values it's united, and the place it is going. However now I don't assume that may 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.