A Mermaid’s Cry: The Story of Diana Makieva

DIANA, A Fugitive TV host, Journalist from Russia

KAKALI DAS

The streets of Vladikavkaz, a small city nestled in the Caucasus Mountains, were cold and unforgiving. In this city, Diana Makieva’s story began—a tale that would weave through despair, resilience, and hope.

Diana was born into a family bound by poverty, her childhood painted with muted shades of hardship. Her father, an alcoholic, would drink and yell, while her mother, embittered by the collapse of the USSR, channelled her anger toward the West.

At just six years old, Diana witnessed her mother’s desperate attempt to end her life, an indelible moment that shaped the rest of her journey.

Diana’s mother, a staunch believer in communist propaganda, blamed the United States for the fall of the Soviet Union. Yet fate, with its cruel irony, would guide her daughter toward the very country her mother despised.

When Diana turned ten, her family moved to Moscow, the sprawling capital of Russia. It was here that Diana’s love for storytelling and media began to take root. By 2011, she had earned a place in the spotlight, hosting Holidays in Mexico, a hit MTV Russia show. The series’ success catapulted her to fame, and soon she was invited to host its sequel, Vacation in Mexico-2. The ratings soared, and Diana became a household name.

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But fame came with its costs. In December 2011, Diana secretly participated in opposition rallies at Bolotnaya Square, joining thousands of Russians dissatisfied with Vladimir Putin’s regime. Though she kept her participation private, the repercussions were swift. By the following year, her contract with MTV was terminated.

In Putin’s Russia, dissent was dangerous, and Diana had crossed a line. The media launched a relentless campaign to discredit her. Articles painted her as ignorant and unstable. Her family, loyal to the Kremlin, turned their backs on her. She faced vandalism, threats, and isolation.

Despite these setbacks, Diana found work as a TV editor in 2014, where she helped create a successful program. But her past haunted her. Pressure from politicians and Roskomnadzor—the Russian media watchdog—led to the show’s cancellation. The message was clear: her opposition to the regime made her a liability.

The years that followed were harrowing. Depression consumed her, and she attempted suicide twice. Seeking solace, Diana shaved her head, shedding the beauty that once defined her. Her struggle led her to a psychiatric facility, a place of unimaginable cruelty. There, she endured invasive searches, forceful medication, and degrading treatment. To secure her release, she had to bribe hospital staff.

By 2017, Diana saw no future in Russia. She fled to Ukraine, a country she admired for its resistance to Putin’s influence. In Kyiv, she began writing articles condemning the Russian government. But even there, threats followed. One day, an anonymous group contacted her, claiming someone had hired an assassin to kill her. Diana turned to the Ukrainian security service for help, but the perpetrators were never found.

Diana’s courage persisted. She started producing YouTube videos criticizing Putin’s regime and advocating for Ukrainian opposition leaders like YuliaTymoshenko. She volunteered for Tymoshenko’s political party, continuing her fight against tyranny.

In early 2022, Diana returned to Moscow to visit her parents, unaware that war was on the horizon. When Russia invaded Ukraine, she spoke out against the Kremlin, publishing scathing articles on her blog. The retaliation was immediate. A decapitated chicken was left on her doorstep, and a gravestone bearing her name appeared at her door.

The final straw came when the Federal Security Service (FSB) called her, demanding she appear at their headquarters. Fearing for her life, Diana knew she had to leave Russia. But with international sanctions in place, her options were limited.

Her escape began in Moscow, where airport security scrutinized every passenger. Diana booked a flight to Moldova, fabricating a story about visiting a boyfriend to avoid suspicion. From there, she travelled to Istanbul, Frankfurt, and finally Mexico City. Each stop was a gamble. In Istanbul, airport officials detained her, questioning her intentions. In Frankfurt, customs agents interrogated her about her return plans. But Diana pressed on.

By the time she reached Tijuana, fear gripped her. The city, infamous for its crime, was no place for a lone traveller. She stayed in a rundown hostel, too afraid to venture outside. Local guides eventually agreed to take her to the U.S. border. Under the cover of darkness, they led her through the desert. When they reached a river, the guides announced they would have to swim. Terrified but determined, Diana plunged into the water, her heart pounding with every stroke.

On the other side, American border guards approached her. Wet, exhausted, and trembling, Diana raised her hands and declared, “I’m an opposition journalist from Russia, seeking political asylum.”

Her journey was over, but her story was just beginning.

Today, Diana speaks out for those silenced in Russia. Thousands of journalists, activists, and artists languish in prison for opposing Putin’s regime. She likens the Kremlin’s oppression to radiation—slowly mutating and destroying the human spirit.

“I feel like a mermaid outside the ocean,” Diana says. “I can’t breathe. My radiant fin has been torn away, replaced by feet I don’t know how to use. The oppressive system destroys your career, your freedom, your relationships—it kills something alive inside you.”

Despite the scars of her past, Diana remains a voice for change. She urges the West to impose new sanctions on Russian state media, which profits from American and European television franchises. “Directors of Russian media outlets are politicians,” she explains. “They support the war but make billions off foreign shows.”

Diana highlights the hypocrisy of Russian television, which profits from American and European franchises like “The Voice” and “Strictly Come Dancing,” while supporting Putin’s regime and war efforts.

She advocates for a ban on the sale of broadcasting rights for these programs to Russian networks, emphasizing that such measures would cut off a significant revenue stream for the Russian state. Major media organizations like “National Media Group,” “Gazprom-Media,” and “VGTRK” generate billions of dollars through these franchises, funding a regime that suppresses dissent and violates human rights.

Diana’s story shows the resilience of the human spirit in the face of oppression. From a small town in Vladikavkaz to the deserts of Tijuana, she has endured unimaginable hardships. Yet she stands as a beacon of hope, reminding the world that the fight for freedom is worth every sacrifice.

Through her journey, Diana Makieva embodies the power of humanistic values, democracy, and the firm belief that one voice can spark change. Her story is not just her own—it is the story of every individual who dares to stand against tyranny, proving that even in the darkest moments, the light of hope endures.

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