Wanderlust

Tag: pussy riot

  • Pussy Riot: The story so far

    In less than three years, Pussy Riot has morphed from a little-known feminist protest band to an international cause celebre. As its two jailed members are freed from prison under an amnesty, the BBC News website recaps the group’s story so far.

    Controversial performance

    Pussy Riot was founded in 2011, but shot to greater prominence after appearing in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in February 2012, to perform an obscenity-laced song called Punk Prayer which attacked the Orthodox Church’s support for President Vladimir Putin.

    Arrest

    Several weeks after the cathedral stunt – which was was broken up by church officials – Maria Alyokhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were arrested and charged with “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred”.

    They were held without bail until their trial in late July when they were convicted and sentenced to two years in prison. Samutsevich was freed on probation in October 2012, but Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina remained in jail.

    Protest

    The case divided Russia with many feeling the women were being too harshly treated and made examples of as part of attempts to clamp down on opposition to the government. But others felt their actions were a gross offence to the Orthodox faith.

    Cause celebre

    The trio’s fate attracted much international attention. Musicians like Sting, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Madonna and Yoko Ono called for their release, while human rights groups designated them prisoners of conscience. Pussy Riot’s distinctive coloured balaclavas became a widely-recognised symbol.

    Prison regime

    The women – both mothers of young children – faced tough conditions inside Russia’s prison system and had a number of parole requests turned down. Tolokonnikova (above left) complained of abuses by prison staff and went on hunger strike.

    Amnesty

    The pair’s sentences were due to end in March 2014, but their release became inevitable in December after an amnesty law was signed by the Russian parliament, covering at least 20,000 prisoners, including mothers.

    Release

    Mr Putin’s critics see the amnesty as a bid to avoid controversy overshadowing Russia’s hosting of the Winter Olympics in February. Maria Alyokhina – the first of the duo to be freed from jail – told a Russian TV channel that the amnesty was a PR stunt and she would rather have remained in prison.

    Tolokonnikova, gesturing as she walked out of a prison hospital in Siberia, said that together with Alyokhina she would set up a human rights group to help prisoners.

  • Pussy Riot activist Pyotr Verzilov ‘in hospital’

    Pyotr Verzilov was one of those jailed for invading the World Cup final pitch Image copyright Reuters Image caption Pyotr Verzilov was one of those jailed for invading the World Cup final pitch

    Pyotr Verzilov, an activist with Russian protest group Pussy Riot, is reported to have been taken to hospital in a serious condition.

    Relatives speaking to the Meduza website said they believed he may have suffered poisoning but there is no official word on his condition.

    He reportedly fell ill after a court hearing on Tuesday for fellow Pussy Riot activist Veronika Nikulshina.

    Mr Verzilov was one of the activists who invaded the World Cup final pitch.

    The story of Pussy Riot’s 2012 jailing

    Ms Nikulshina told Meduza that Mr Verzilov had complained of losing his sight, “then the ability to talk, then the ability to walk”.

    Image copyright Reuters Image caption Croatia’s Dejan Lovren squared up to Mr Verzilov during the World Cup pitch invasion in July

    Meduza said Mr Verzilov was in the toxicology department of a hospital in Moscow’s Sokolniki district.

    It said Mr Verzilov’s mother had not been allowed to see her son.

    Mr Verzilov, who also holds Canadian citizenship, was part of the Voina performance art group with Ms Tolokonnikova before it split in 2009 and then acted as spokesperson for Pussy Riot during the 2012 trial.

    He was jailed for 15 days this year along with three women activists after invading football’s World Cup final in Moscow on 15 July wearing police uniforms.

    How Pussy Riot managed to burst into final

    They said the action, under the name of Pussy Riot, was a protest against human rights abuses in Russia.

  • Russia World Cup: Pussy Insurrection protesters detained on leaving prison

    Intruders affiliated to anti-Kremlin punk band Pussy Riot, Veronika Nikulshina, Olga Kurachyova and Olga Pakhtusova, who ran onto the pitch during the World Cup final between France and Croatia, walk out of a detention centre Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption Nika Nikulshina, Olga Kurachyova and Olga Pakhtusova have been detained in a while after leaving prison

    Members of the Russian activist group Pussy Rise Up, jailed after running on to the pitch throughout the World Cup ultimate, say they have been detained again as they walked free from jail.

    Pyotr Verzilov, Nika Nikulshina, Olga Kurachyova and Olga Pakhtusova had been jailed for 15 days earlier this month.

    Authorities stated they violated the principles for spectators at physical activities and wore police uniforms illegally.

    Pussy Rebellion mentioned it used to be a protest in opposition to human rights abuses in Russia.

    How Pussy Rebellion managed to burst into final

    It is unclear exactly why the activists, who’ve additionally been banned from attending sports occasions for 3 years, have been detained once more.

    Image copyright Getty Images Symbol caption The Group of activists interrupted the arena Cup ultimate

    In a later tweet in Russian, he said they weren’t dealing with any fees.

    “The Luzhniki police station says that there’s an order to keep us in overnight – till some methods happen within the morning,” he mentioned. “they’re going to stay all 4 (people) in overnight, the police say. However there aren’t any fees.”

    The 4 had been originally arrested after interrupting the second half of the Croatia v France fit for roughly 25 seconds on 15 July.

    They wore police-taste uniforms – white shirts, black trousers and epaulettes.

    One protester managed to do a high-5 hand gesture with France famous person Kylian Mbappé prior to being led off the pitch.

    Symbol copyright Getty Images Image caption Pyotr Verzilov stated on Twitter they had been being held overnight

    However Verzilov was once grabbed in anger by way of Croatia defender Dejan Lovren. After the incident Lovren told newshounds: “I just misplaced my head and i grabbed the man and i wanted i may throw him away from the stadium.”

    Verzilov later instructed the BBC they were “speaking for Russia”.

    “Throughout the world Cup, which I Really enjoyed, there wasn’t a phrase of political grievance against the government,” he said in an interview conducted in jail.

    “I categorically disagree with Western international locations who demand a boycott of Russian exercises. However to avoid criticising what is going on on in Russia nowadays is wrong.”

  • Global Cup: Pussy Revolt protesters charged over pitch demonstration

    Intruder high-fiving Mbappé Image copyright Reuters Symbol caption Considered One Of the pitch invaders top-fived France’s Mbappé

    Russian authorities have charged four members of the punk activist workforce Pussy Insurrection for disrupting the world Cup ultimate by way of working onto the pitch.

    They are accused of violating the foundations for spectators at sports and of wearing police uniforms illegally.

    The offences lift most fines of 10,000 roubles (£121; $161) and 1,500 roubles, respectively.

    Pussy Rise Up said it was once a protest towards human rights abuses in Russia. Stewards hauled the 4 off the pitch.

    The incident interrupted the second one 1/2 the Croatia v France match for about 25 seconds. France went directly to win FOUR-2.

    Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption Safety was once tight and it’s no longer transparent how the activists controlled to get through

    Pussy Rebellion has staged prime-profile protests against President Vladimir Putin sooner than. 3 participants have been jailed in 2012 for an anti-Putin punk music performed in a Moscow cathedral.

    The staff has tweeted that the 4 arrested on Sunday spent the entire evening at a police station in great ache and can be taken to court to stand the charges for “administrative offences”.

    Contrasting reactions

    3 ladies and a man ran onto the pitch, even though one was tackled at the sidelines. They wore police-style uniforms: white shirts, black trousers and epaulettes.

    One lady managed to do a high-5 salute with French big name Kylian Mbappé ahead of being led off the pitch.

    however the male intruder was once grabbed in anger by Croatia defender Dejan Lovren. After the incident Lovren informed journalists: “I simply lost my head and that i grabbed the fellow and i wanted i’ll throw him clear of the stadium.”

    Image copyright Reuters Symbol caption Croatia’s Lovren grabbed certainly one of the intruders

    the person was identified as Pyotr Verzilov, husband of Nadezhda Tolokonnikova. She was among 3 Pussy Rebel members jailed in 2012.

    Fitting final caps epic Global Cup In footage: France wins the world Cup Pussy Rebellion to place audience ‘in prison’

    the three ladies International Cup intruders had been named as Nika Nikulshina, Olga Kurachyova and Olga Pakhtusova.

    A remark from Pussy Insurrection said the objectives in their protest integrated making the Russian authorities:

    Loose all political prisoners Prevent illegal arrests at public rallies Allow political competition within the united states Stop fabricating criminal cases and jailing folks on remand for no reason

    The observation quoted a Russian poet, Dmitry Prigov, who had contrasted the “heavenly policeman who speaks to God on his walkie-talkie” with “the earthly one who fabricates legal cases”.

    The Russian anti-Putin activist and blogger Alexei Navalny has tweeted a video clip appearing two of the pitch invaders being interrogated.

    An angry voice is heard shouting at Mr Verzilov and one in every of the women – taking a look saggy of their mock police uniforms.

    “Once In A While I remorseful about that it is not 1937” the person off-camera says, alluding to the communist-era terror campaign instigated by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.