Along with two other fellow members of Russian punk activist group and band Pussy Riot, the pair chose the biggest stage possible: the hotly anticipated showdown of the Croatia v France final. How have the challenges facing you changed in the years since the group was founded in ? Nikulshina: The communications between the government and political activists is kind of a game. But, as we know, seeing things like detention for no reason and poisonings, we can say definitely that the government uses forms that are unfair.

Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist protest punk rock and performance art group based in Moscow. The group gained global notoriety when five members of the group staged a performance inside Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on February 21, The women said their protest was directed at the Orthodox Church leaders' support for Putin during his election campaign. On March 3, , two of the group members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina , were arrested and charged with hooliganism.

Pussy Riot was a feminist punk-rock group based in Moscow, Russian Federation. Wearing colorful clothes and balaclavas, band members conducted several unsanctioned public performances, which were recorded, edited, and later distributed as music videos on the Internet. Committed to socio-political change in Russia, Pussy Riot protested against the authoritarian political regime and church-state confluence in Russia and advocated for feminism, LGBT and civil rights, and political liberties. Following the performance, a criminal case was opened against three Pussy Riot members, leading to arrests without bail of Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, and Yekaterina Samutsevich. This case has become a landmark event in Russian politics, causing a domestic and international controversy over the issues of justice, feminism, and separation of church and state.

We use cookies to improve our service for you. You can find more information in our data protection declaration. Russian activist Pyotr Verzilov has reportedly been arrested as part of a police anti-extremist investigation. Kremlin critic Pyotr Verzilov, a prominent member of the Pussy Riot protest group, is being held by the Russian police anti-extremism division, state news agency Tass reported Sunday. A source quoted by Russia's Interfax news agency said Verzilov was brought before investigators to testify in a criminal case concerning extremist content posted on social networks.