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 eye 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 2 years in prison for his or her activism, the group continued to speak out towards the Kremlin chief, with Ms Alyokhina remaining decided to battle Mr Putin's system.

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

In April, Russian authorities placed her below house arrest as they tried to stop those in 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 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 assistance of an artist from Iceland, who secured her journey documents.

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

"I still don't perceive completely what I've carried out."

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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's united, by what values it is united, and the place it's going. However now I do not suppose that is a question anymore."

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