Burning Putin's Portrait and Urinating on It... Five Russian Dissident Band Members Sent to Prison

Sentenced to Prison for Spreading False Information
Delivered Messages by Storming the 2018 World Cup Final

Members of the Russian dissident band Pussy Riot, who strongly criticized the invasion of Ukraine through their performance, have been sentenced to prison in absentia. On September 16, Yonhap News, citing international outlets such as Rolling Stone, reported that five Pussy Riot members were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 8 to 13 years on charges of spreading false information.

Members of the Russian dissident band Pussy Riot, who strongly criticized the invasion of Ukraine through their performance, were sentenced to prison in absentia. YouTube channel 'Pussy Riot'

In December 2022, Pussy Riot released the music video "Mama, Don't Watch TV." In this video, they strongly criticized the Russian military. Additionally, during a performance in Munich, Germany in April 2024, they staged an act in which they urinated on a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Currently active overseas, Pussy Riot members did not respond to the Russian court's summons. Nevertheless, the Moscow Basmanny District Court proceeded with the trial in absentia and found them guilty. After the Russian court delivered its guilty verdict, Pussy Riot members, through their representatives, denied the charges and protested, calling the ruling "political persecution." Veronika Nikulshina, the lyricist of "Mama, Don't Watch TV," strongly criticized, saying, "Ukraine must win, and Putin must stand trial at the Hague for war crimes."

Pussy Riot interrupted the 2018 Russia World Cup final match, causing the game to be temporarily halted. One of the Pussy Riot members who intruded at that time even high-fived Mbappe. X (X)

Pussy Riot, a female rock band and performance group formed in 2011, first gained international attention in 2012 after being arrested and detained for a performance critical of Putin. They performed a song titled "Mother of God, Drive Putin Away" at a Russian Orthodox cathedral near the Kremlin in Moscow. Following a report from the cathedral, two members were arrested and served two years in prison before being released at the end of 2013. During the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, when Putin's "anti-gay law" became an issue, Russian police used whips on the members while suppressing their performance, again drawing international attention. Since 2015, they have released English-language songs criticizing excessive use of force by American police against Black people, as well as anti-immigration and misogynistic remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump. They also interrupted the 2018 Russia World Cup final match, causing the game to be temporarily halted. One of the Pussy Riot members who intruded at that time even high-fived Mbappe.