Russian authorities have put a member of the Pussy Riot punk group on a wanted list for criminal suspects as the Kremlin works to stifle political dissent.
Russian news outlet Mediazona discovered an entry for Nadezhda Tolokonnikova in the Russian Interior Ministry’s database of wanted individuals on Wednesday. The entry, also reviewed by The Associated Press, said Tolokonnikova faces criminal charges, but it didn’t specify what the charges are.
This comes just as Pussy Riot has been selected as Woody Guthrie Prize honorees for “best [exemplifying] Guthrie’s spirit and work by speaking for the less fortunate through music, film, literature, dance, or other art forms and serving as a positive force for social change.”
They imprison and kill those who speak up
“Pussy Riot is freedom: freedom of art, speech, ideals, women’s rights, gay rights — the ability to dream and to hope for a better world,” Tolokonnikova tells Variety in a statement. “If anyone needs an example of what russia [sic] has become in terms of these social ideals, use my warrant as an example. And it is not just me, they criminalize the father of a young child, Masha Moskaleva, who draws with crayons about the war. They imprison and kill those who speak up.”
She continues, “If the west which values free speech and human rights, wants to really help fight against this man’s pathetic regime, then send Ukraine F-16s, tanks, resources to win this war. Only after this war is won by the brave free people of Ukraine can we even begin to think about any hope of rebuilding in russia [sic]. Putin and all who support his regime must be stopped, unequivocally, absolutely.”
Tolokonnikova became widely known for taking part in a 2012 Pussy Riot protest inside Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral. She spent nearly two years in prison.
Earlier this month Russia’s top human rights lawyer, Pavel Chikov, said a criminal case had been launched against Tolokonnikova on the charge of offending religious believers’ feelings, which became a criminal offense in Russia after the 2012 Pussy Riot protest.
Tolokonnikova has left Russia. In 2021, the Russian government designated her as a “foreign agent,” a label that brings additional government scrutiny and carries pejorative connotations that can discredit the recipients.
Sources: AP, Variety