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 meals 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.

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

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After being released from jail, she continued her activism and set up a news outlet targeted on crime and punishment in Russia, called Mediazona, with another member of the band.

In April, Russian authorities placed her beneath house arrest as they tried to stop those 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 food courier and leaving her cellphone behind as a decoy.

She was then in a position to cross into Lithuania after searching for the help of an artist from Iceland, who secured her journey paperwork.

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

"I still don't perceive completely what I've accomplished."

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

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

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