"The charges stem from an April 2024 protest at Munich's Pinakothek der Moderne museum, where Pussy Riot members Maria Alyokhina, Alina Petrova, and Anastasia "Taso" Pletner condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine. During their performance, the group called Vladimir Putin a war criminal, and Pletner urinated on a portrait of the Russian president. Meanwhile, prosecutors claimed Alyokhina, Pletner, Olga Borisova, Diana Burkot, and Alina Petrova spread "false information" about Russian soldiers killing Ukrainian civilians in their "Mama, Don't Watch TV" video."
"In making their case, prosecutors argued that Alyokhina "holds left-wing political views" and the group members as a whole "oppose the current government" in Russia. Moscow's Basmanny District Court sentenced co-founder Maria Alyokhina to 13 years and 15 days in prison in absentia. Taso Pletner received 11 years, while Olga Borisova, Diana Burkot, and Alina Petrova each received eight-year sentences."
Five members of Pussy Riot were sentenced in absentia to prison terms ranging from eight to 13 years under Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code for allegedly spreading 'false information' about the armed forces. The charges related to an April 2024 protest at Munich's Pinakothek der Moderne and to the group's 2022 music video 'Mama, Don't Watch TV.' During the Munich performance members called Vladimir Putin a war criminal and one member urinated on a portrait of the president. Prosecutors cited the video as alleging Russian soldiers killed Ukrainian civilians. Moscow's Basmanny District Court issued the sentences, including 13 years and 15 days for co-founder Maria Alyokhina. New Russian law now criminalizes searching for content deemed 'extremist,' affecting several Pussy Riot videos.
Read at Consequence
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]