The ongoing Ukraine war has been a source of tragedy and turmoil for the country and the region for several years now. The conflict, which began in 2014, has claimed over 13,000 lives so far and has left countless others displaced and traumatized. Amidst this backdrop of violence and uncertainty, recent developments have been grabbing headlines and sparking renewed discussions about the need for peace. In this article, we will provide live updates on two significant events related to the Ukraine war: the call for peace by England and Ukraine footballers at Wembley stadium, and the European Union’s urgent appeal to Belarus not to host Russian nuclear weapons.
Marina Ovsyannikova, a former employee of the Russian state broadcaster Channel One Russia TV, has expressed hope that the International Criminal Court’s recent decision to issue an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin could spark resistance within Russia’s elite. Ms Ovsyannikova, who worked at the broadcaster for over 10 years, spoke out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, interrupting a live news broadcast with a sign that read “Stop the war, don’t believe the propaganda, here you are being lied to”.
Following her protest, Ms Ovsyannikova fled Russia and is currently living in Paris. Speaking to BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, she said: “I think that this is the first signal that the Russian elite should take notice of, and perhaps some kind of resistance will start within the Russian elite, they might plot against him. This is some sort of hope for me.”
Ms Ovsyannikova explained that she was motivated to speak out against the war due to her Ukrainian heritage, stating: “Over a long time I realized that Russian TV had become a brainwash. I also have Ukrainian roots, my father is from Ukraine. At one point it was like a huge emotional outburst, I didn’t care what would happen to me.” She added that many working in Russia’s state media share her opinions, claiming that “this propaganda is made on a very high level” and that “people who are working in the main channels, we don’t really believe it. They have similar views to me. No more than 10%-20% of people are pro-Putin.”
Ms Ovsyannikova’s comments come in the wake of the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for President Putin and three other senior Russian officials for alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine since 2014. The court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, stated that “there is a reasonable basis to believe” that Putin and other high-ranking officials “knowingly provided substantial assistance” to pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, who have been engaged in a conflict with Ukrainian government forces.
The ICC’s decision marks the first time that a head of state currently in office has been indicted by the court, and is seen as a significant development in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, the chances of Putin being arrested and brought to trial are seen as remote, given that Russia is not a party to the ICC’s Rome Statute and has not recognized the court’s jurisdiction.
Nevertheless, Ms Ovsyannikova’s comments suggest that the ICC’s decision could have broader implications within Russia, by giving voice to those who oppose Putin’s regime and potentially spurring resistance within the political elite. As The Guardian notes, “as well as being an embarrassment for Russia, the ICC’s decision could exacerbate internal political tensions, particularly among those among those in the ruling elite who fear being targeted by international justice themselves.”
It remains to be seen whether the ICC’s decision will lead to any significant changes within Russia or have lasting implications for the conflict in Ukraine. However, Ms Ovsyannikova’s bold decision to speak out against the war and call for resistance within Russia’s elite is a powerful reminder of the importance of free speech and dissent in the face of authoritarian regimes.
