The French judiciary is investigating whether Russian journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, who fled to France, was poisoned. She became ill when she opened the door of her apartment in central Paris and noticed a powdery substance.
Ovsyannikova rose to international fame when she protested on Russian state television against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Christophe Deloire, Secretary-General of Reporters Without Borders, wrote: “We feared for Marina’s fate, and there were reports that she might have been poisoned. This has not been ruled out, but contrary to what was reported in the press, Marina did not mention it.” Boundary on X.
Deloire said in a second message that her condition improved during the day, but she is still under medical supervision. Ovsyannikova was recently sentenced in absentia in Russia to more than eight years in prison for spreading fake news.
It disrupted a news broadcast last year and showed a banner with texts such as “They are lying to you” and “Stop the war.” Last February, she fled to Paris with her daughter.
The possible poisoning of Ovsyannikova shows similarities to previous cases in which Russia wanted to eliminate critics through poisoning. The most famous examples are Alexei Navalny, Sergei Skripal, his daughter Julia, and Alexander Litvinenko. The latter died in London in 2006 after being poisoned by polonium.
James Anderson is a contributor at Houstonian Online, covering news, politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. He focuses on clear, accurate reporting that helps readers stay informed about current events, emerging trends, and stories that matter to local and broader communities.