Russian Government Places Pussy Riot Member On Wanted List

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Pussy Riot: Denis Bochkarev, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
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Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, the founder of the political punk group known as Pussy Riot, has been placed on Russia’s wanted criminal list.

As reported by The Associated Press, a Russian news outlet by the name of Mediazona came across an entry for Tolokonnikova within the Russian Interior Ministry’s database for wanted criminals this Wednesday (March 29th).

Upon review by both Mediazona and The Associated Press, though Tolokonnikova faces criminal charges, there are no specific details in regard to why she is in the wanted database.

AP also notes that earlier this month, Pavel Chikov (one of Russia’s top human rights lawyers), said that a criminal case had been launched against Tolokonnikova; in regard to this case, Chikov said that the case was launched against the Pussy Riot member on the charge of offending religious believer’s feelings. Offending religious believers became a criminal offense within the country after the 2012 Pussy Riot protest.

It is that 2012 protest that launched global awareness of Pussy Riot. The band took part in a protest performance within Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, with said protest being directed at the church’s leaders, who supported Russian President Vladimir Putin during his election campaign.

After this show took place, Tolokonnikova and two other members of the band, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich, were arrested. All three members were sentenced to two years in prison; while Samutsevich was released early on probation following an appeal, and her sentence suspended, Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova ended up serving their sentences. They would be released from prison come 2013.

Tolokonnikova left the country in 2021 and has been labeled a “foreign agent” by the Russian government.

We will keep you posted on any updates regarding this story as it develops. What do you make of Tolokonnikova being placed on Russia’s wanted criminal list?

For now, Pussy Riot is supposed to be taking part in two upcoming North American shows where they will be playing alongside Avenged Sevenfold and Falling In Reverse. Details regarding these upcoming shows can be found below.

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