The Moscow Tverskoy District Court has officially labeled the punk band Pussy Riot as an “extremist organization,” a decision that was announced on Monday. This ruling restricts the group’s activities within Russia and exposes any affiliates to potential legal action.
Gaining international attention in 2012, Pussy Riot became known for their daring “punk prayer” staged in one of Russia’s most prominent cathedrals, directly challenging President Vladimir Putin.
Although many of its members operate in exile, Pussy Riot remains a vocal part of the Russian opposition. In a recent development, five individuals connected to the group faced legal consequences. As reported by Mediazona, a news outlet co-founded by Pussy Riot’s Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, the individuals received sentences for disseminating what was termed as “false information” regarding the Russian military.
The charges were primarily related to an anti-war music video produced by the group and a controversial art piece in Germany where Taso Pletner defaced a portrait of Putin. Sentences varied, with Alyokhina receiving 13 years, Pletner 11 years, and Olga Borisova, Diana Burkot, and Alina Petrova each getting eight-year terms. The defendants have denounced these charges as being driven by political motives.
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