Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Independent TV

Showing now | News

Russia facing 'repressions of Stalin's scale' under Putin, former state TV journalist says

00:32

Russia facing ‘repressions of Stalin’s scale’ under Putin, former state TV journalist says

A former Russian state TV journalist has suggested that the nation is facing “repressions of Stalin’s scale”.

Marina Ovsyannikova, a dissident who made global headlines for her on-air protest against the war in Ukraine last year, once again spoke out against Vladimir Putin as she spoke to Beth Rigby Interviews on Sky News.

“You need to understand that there are three million people serving in the FSB, the police, let alone private security companies,” Ms Ovsyannikova said, when asked if the Russian population will “oppose” the war, or if “the elites” will defeat Mr Putin in the end.

“We’re talking about repressions of Stalin’s scale.”

Click here to sign up for our newsletters.

Up next

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in