Three members of Pussy Riot, the Russian all-female punk band, were arrested after an anti-Putin protest, and are now facing seven years in jail.
If you are not familiar with them, they probably are the only band that matters in Russia, and in the world, not afraid to stand up for their believes, true revolutionaries who have organized impromptu performances in Moscow, especially directed against Putin’s election campaign. Their faces hidden behind colorful masks, wearing summer dresses in the awful Siberian cold and snowy weather, they are made of 10 performers as well as 15 other people handling the technical/video part of their performances.
Last February, Pussy Riot performed in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow, and the song, which contained the lyrics ‘chase Putin out’. didn’t please the authorities. As a result several members of the band were arrested and accused of ‘hooliganism’, and they are now recognized as political prisoners or prisoners of conscience by the Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners and Amnesty International.
Their trial is just starting, and according to the Guardian, this could be a defining moment in Putin’s career. What does it say about these women? That anyone can do it through art and music, that they represent the true role of punk.
This is what 3 of them, Sparrow (22), Balaclava (33) and Squirrel (20) had to say to the Guardian:
‘It means that really everybody can be Pussy Riot… we just show people what the people can do’, said Sparrow.
‘We show the brutal and cruel side of the government. We don't do something illegal. It's not illegal, singing and saying what you think’, said Squirrel.
‘We are not superwomen – we are pretty ordinary women and our goal is that all women in Russia can become like this without masks’, said Balaclava.
They also said they have attempted to reach international stars, they tried to get Sting to wear a Pussy Riot t-shirt at his concert, but he didn’t, but just called for the band’s release. However Franz Ferdinand and Red Hot Chili Peppers have come out in support, and they are also trying to reach out to Madonna who is playing in Moscow next month,… good luck with that!