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 prison for their activism, the group continued to talk out towards the Kremlin chief, with Ms Alyokhina remaining decided to combat Mr Putin's system.

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

In April, Russian authorities placed her below 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.

Nevertheless, the band chief managed to evade the Moscow police by disguising herself as a meals courier and leaving her phone behind as a decoy.

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

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Comparing her story to a "spy novel", Ms Alyokhina told The New York Times: "I was happy that I made it, because it was an unpredictable and massive kiss-off to the Russian authorities.

"I still do not understand completely 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 about how it is united, by what values it is united, and where it's going. But now I don't think that may be a question anymore."

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