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

Political activist and member of the Russian band Pussy Riot has reportedly fled the nation 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.

Despite being sentenced to two years in prison for his or her activism, the group continued to talk out towards the Kremlin leader, with Ms Alyokhina remaining determined to fight Mr Putin's system.

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

In April, Russian authorities positioned her under home arrest as they tried to stop 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 food courier and leaving her cellphone behind as a decoy.

She was then able to cross into Lithuania after seeking 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 Times: "I was happy that I made it, as a result of it was an unpredictable and massive kiss-off to the Russian authorities.

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

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

"Even earlier than, there were questions about how it's united, by what values it is united, and the place it's going. However now I do not assume that could be a query anymore."

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