Shocking moment couple arrested in Russian restaurant after criticising Putin’s war

This is the shocking moment a Russian couple were detained for speaking out against Vladimir Putin’s war while having a family dinner in a restaurant.

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

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

After they were handcuffed by the officers, Ovchinnikova defiantly made clear her full support for Ukraine in a video that may see her jailed for up to five years under draconian laws forbidding criticism of Putin’s war.

After they were handcuffed, Ovchinnikova defiantly made clear her full support for Ukraine in a video that may see her jailed for up to five years under draconian laws forbidding criticism of Putin’s war

‘I’ll go all the way,’ she said, undaunted, getting up from the floor while handcuffed.

‘Hail to Ukraine!

‘No, I will not 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 talking together of their support for Ukraine while they ate a restaurant

Olesya Ovchinnikova and Alexey Ovchinnikov are pictured on a family holiday

She mocked the young officer as he filmed the video as evidence against her.

‘Bunny, take the film, your mum will be proud of you, you’re so ******* good….,’ she told him in footage released by the authorities.

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

‘I know you’re ashamed [detaining us for this], I know how ******* ashamed you are.

‘I know at your young age how ******* ashamed you are of everything you do.’

Restaurant Na drovakh – or On Firewood – in Krasnodar. The couple’s private conversation was evidently reported to the police by a staff member

Pictured: Alexey Ovchinnikov and his children. The family were having a private conversation during a family meal when they were arrested

‘I’ll go all the way,’ Olesya Ovchinnikova said, undaunted, getting up from the floor while handcuffed. ‘Hail to Ukraine!

The couple – who have two underage daughters – were hauled to a police station after their arrest in the restaurant.

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 she will also face future action after law enforcement drew up a protocol against her for allegedly discrediting the Russian army with her comments in support of Ukraine.

The maximum penalty is five years in prison.

Olesya Ovchinnikova (L) and Alexey Ovchinnikov (R) were hauled to a police station after their arrest in the restaurant

Alexey Ovchinnikov with his daughter. Ovchinnikov was detained for for 15 days, said the couple’s lawyer Alexey Avanesyan. She was fined 1,000 rubles [£12], but she will also face future action after law enforcement drew up a protocol against her for allegedly discrediting the Russian army

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

‘An important difference between authoritarianism and totalitarianism is that in the first case, the public expression of oppositional sentiments can be banned, but no one cares about the personal opinion expressed in private conversations,’ he said.

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

‘Russia is moving towards totalitarianism.’

He forecast witch-hunts with people blaming anyone they disliked for being anti-war.

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