Photos (courtesy of Pussy Riot)
Today, Pussy Riot created an action in front of the Russian Embassy in Berlin. Given the horrific murder of Alexei Navalny, they brought a banner reading “MURDERERS” in Russian and English.
They clashed with German police, who forced them to remove their masks, and threatened them with arrest if they did not comply. The action was led by Pussy Riot creator Nadya Tolokonnikova, and they were joined by local activists, as well as Pussy Riot member Lucy Shtein, Navalny team member Lyubov Sobol, and by Marina Ovsyannikova.
Many who took part in the action were in town for the World Forum / Cinema for Peace, including participation in panels on Alexei Navalny, the future of Russia, and the role of dissidents. The World Forum was started soon after the protest action, with Nadya Tolokonnikova asking for a moment of silence for her friend Alexei Navalny.
We came with one simple word – “MURDERERS”
He did not just die. He was murdered.
What we need to know about Putin is that he’s much more fragile than he seems. He is afraid of his opponents.
Alexei Navalny was hope and light for people inside and outside of Russia. He was symbol of hope and resistance, and an example of someone standing up for his values.
If he was standing here with us he would be cracking jokes.
He led with love and joy and laughter.
This allowed him to give us strength. Even when he was in jail.
Lets continue with Joy and Strength to honor Alexei.
– Pussy Riot’s creator Nadya Tolokonnikova
Conceptual performance artist Nadya Tolokonnikova is the creator of Pussy Riot, a global feminist protest art movement. Tolokonnikova was named a top enemy of Russia for speaking out against Vladimir Putin’s dictatorship throughout the last decade: she was sentenced in 2012 to 2 years’ imprisonment following an anti-Putin performance, and was recently added to the Russian “most wanted” and “terrorist” lists.
Today, hundreds of people identify as a part of the Pussy Riot community.
Pussy Riot’s Punk-Prayer was named by The Guardian among the best art pieces of the 21st century: “feminist, explicitly anti-Putin, protesting the banning of gay pride and the Orthodox church’s support of the president”.
Exhibited at MoMA PS1, Palais de Tokyo, Saatchi Gallery, Louisiana Museum in Denmark, Dallas Contemporary among other places. Live performances at Glastonbury, Outside Lands Music Festival, Life Is Beautiful, and Denmark’s Roskilde, along with tours opening for MARINA, as well as headlining tours.
Tolokonnikova’s Putin’s Ashes art installation at Deitch Gallery in January 2023 propelled her into a new criminal case and put her on said most wanted criminal list. In her inspiring TED Talk, she tells the story of her imprisonment and shares what motivates her resistance; delivering a powerful message to Putin himself.
Photo credit: Gilberto Tadday
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