‘If I stay silent, my heart will burst’ How a Russian surgeon went from believing Kremlin propaganda to risking her freedom to oppose the war — Meduza
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Olga Avdeyeva is a surgeon and mother of five from Izhevsk, the capital of Russia’s Republic of Udmurtia. In August 2022, she left an anti-war message beneath a large Z symbol on the side of the local theater that she passed every day on her way to work. Almost a year later, Olga was charged with “discrediting” the Russian Armed Forces. She’s now facing a fine of up to 300,000 rubles ($3,330) or up to five years in prison, but she insists she has no regrets. The independent outlet 7x7 recently told Avdeyeva’s story. Meduza retells it in English.

Olga Avdeyeva is a surgeon and mother of five from Izhevsk, the capital of Russia’s Republic of Udmurtia. In August 2022, she left an anti-war message beneath a large Z symbol on the side of the local theater that she passed every day on her way to work. Almost a year later, Olga was charged with “discrediting” the Russian Armed Forces.