Shocking moment couple arrested at Russian restaurant after criticizing Putin’s war

This is the shocking moment a Russian couple was arrested for speaking out against Vladimir Putin’s war while dining as a family at a restaurant.

Armed officers from the country’s national guard handcuffed Olesya Ovchinnikova, 42, and her husband Alexey Ovchinnikov, 40, forcing them to the ground.

Their private conversation was evidently reported to the police by a staff member of the Na drovakh restaurant, or On Firewood, in Krasnodar.

After officers handcuffed them, Ovchinnikova defiantly made clear her full support for Ukraine in a video that can get her jailed for up to five years under draconian laws that prohibit criticizing Putin’s war.

After they were handcuffed, Ovchinnikova defiantly made clear her full support for Ukraine in a video that could land her in jail for up to five years under draconian laws that prohibit criticizing Putin’s war.

‘I’ll go all the way,’ she said, undaunted, rising from the ground while handcuffed.

‘Greetings to Ukraine!

‘No, I won’t shut my mouth. I won’t shut my mouth.

‘Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes! Glory to Zelensky….!’

Olesya Ovchinnikova and Alexey Ovchinnikov were detained in Krasnodar, Russia, for speaking together about their support for Ukraine while eating at a restaurant.

Olesya Ovchinnikova and Alexey Ovchinnikov on a family vacation

She taunted the young officer while filming the video as evidence against him.

“Bunny, take the film, your mother will be proud of you, you are so fucking good…” he told her in images published by the authorities.

‘You’re a superhero… what else can I say?

‘I know you’re embarrassed [detaining us for this]I know how fucking embarrassed you are.

“I know at your young age how fucking ashamed you are of everything you do.”

Restaurant Na drovakh – or on firewood – in Krasnodar. Evidently, the couple’s private conversation was reported to the police by a member of staff.

In the picture: Alexey Ovchinnikov and his children. The family was having a private conversation over a family meal when they were arrested.

“I’ll go all the way,” Olesya Ovchinnikova said unfazed, rising from the ground in handcuffs. ‘Greetings to Ukraine!

The couple, who have two underage daughters, were taken to a police station after their arrest at the restaurant.

The next day, a court detained her husband for 15 days, said the couple’s lawyer, Alexey Avanesyan.

She was fined 1,000 rubles. [£12].

But he will also face further action after police drew up a protocol against him for allegedly discrediting the Russian military with his pro-Ukrainian comments.

The maximum penalty is five years in prison.

Olesya Ovchinnikova (left) and Alexey Ovchinnikov (right) were taken to a police station after their arrest at the restaurant.

Alexey Ovchinnikov with his daughter. Ovchinnikov was detained for 15 days, the couple’s lawyer, Alexey Avanesyan, said. She was fined 1,000 rubles. [£12]but he will also face further action after police drew up a protocol against him for allegedly discrediting the Russian military.

Putin’s former speechwriter, Abbas Gallyamov, called the episode proof that Russia is sinking into totalitarianism.

“An important difference between authoritarianism and totalitarianism is that in the first case the public expression of opposition sentiments can be prohibited, but nobody cares about the personal opinion expressed in private conversations,” he said.

‘Under totalitarianism, even words spoken in personal conversation and not intended for other people’s ears are punishable.

‘Russia is moving towards totalitarianism.’

He predicted witch hunts with people who would blame anyone they didn’t like for being against the war.

“Judging by what happened in the Krasnodar restaurant, anyone can be declared a ‘critic of the regime’ based solely on a private statement from some vigilant citizen.”