Pussy Riot

A group of women makes loud music.

They wear bright clothes and masks. They sing to help people have rights. They want to change things in Russia.

They use music to speak up. They often perform in public places. Some of their shows are not allowed. This is how they get attention.

They want fair rules for women. They also help people in the LGBTQ group. They use loud songs to share these ideas.

Three women were once arrested for a show. They performed in a large church. Many people around the world saw this.

People still use their name today. It is a way to show pride.

They use art to help others.

Pussy Riot is a group of women from Russia.

They use punk rock music and art to protest. They want to change how their country is run. The group focuses on feminism and LGBTQ rights. They also speak out against the Russian leader.

Members often wear bright clothes and colorful balaclavas. A balaclava is a mask that covers the face. They use these masks to stay private. Most shows are not allowed by the law. They perform in public places to get attention. They film these shows and put them on the internet.

In 2012, five members performed in a large church. This was the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

Three women were arrested after this show. Many people around the world felt the arrests were wrong. Groups like Amnesty International called them prisoners of conscience. This means they were jailed for their beliefs.

Today, the group has changed over time. Some members have moved on to new projects. Others still use the name to show their ideas.

They use loud music and art to stand up for others.

Pussy Riot is a feminist protest and performance art group from Moscow, Russia.

They use punk rock music to share their ideas about the world. The group focuses on topics like feminism and LGBTQ rights. They also speak out against the policies of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their goal is to use art to act as a form of civic activity. They want to protect basic human rights and political liberties. To them, art is a way to stand up against powerful systems.

Their performances are often called guerrilla gigs because they happen in public spaces without permission. The members usually wear bright, colorful dresses and tights. They also wear balaclavas, which are masks that cover their faces. This helps them stay anonymous while they perform. They often use nicknames like "Cat" or "Blondie" during interviews. These shows are filmed as music videos and shared on the internet. The music is often loud and uses simple, heavy guitar sounds.

The group began in the fall of 2011.

Nadya Tolokonnikova was 22 years old when she helped start the collective. Some members were part of an older art group called Voina. Pussy Riot usually has between 10 and 20 members at a time. They are inspired by the 1990s riot grrrl movement and British punk bands. Their music is meant to be a form of pure protest. They believe that illegal actions are the best way to get media attention.

A major event happened in February 2012 at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

Five members performed inside this large Moscow church. This action was called sacrilegious by the Russian Orthodox Church. Three women, Maria Alyokhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, were arrested. They were convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. This sentence received almost universal condemnation from the worldwide press. Amnesty International even named them prisoners of conscience.

Since then, the group has changed in many ways. Some members have started their own separate projects or shows. For example, Alyokhina created a show called Riot Days. In 2018, members even entered the pitch during the FIFA World Cup Final. They wore police uniforms to protest against wrongful arrests. While the group is seen differently by some today, their impact remains. They showed how music and art can be used to talk about big issues like economic inequality.

Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist protest and performance art collective based in Moscow.

The group uses provocative punk rock music to express political and social views. They aim to turn art into a form of civic activity. This means they use creative expression to engage with political systems. Their work focuses on defending basic human rights and civil liberties. They view their actions as a response to a corporate political system. This system, they argue, often works against the rights of individual citizens.

The group's performances are known as guerrilla gigs. These are unauthorized shows staged in public places to grab attention.

To maintain anonymity, members wear brightly colored balaclavas and acid-bright tights. They also use aliases or nicknames during interviews. Common pseudonyms include "Cat," "Seraph," "Terminator," and "Blondie." These performances are often filmed as music videos and shared online. The music style is rooted in British punk and the 1990s riot grrrl movement. Members have noted that singing talent is less important than the spirit of the protest. They often use loud, scream-like vocals and simple guitar riffs.

Membership in the collective is fluid and decentralized. While the group started with approximately 15 women, it usually maintains between 10 and 20 members. There is no official line-up, as the group states that anyone can join. The members' political views range from anarchist to liberal left. However, they are united by several core pillars. These include feminism, anti-authoritarianism, and opposition to the policies of President Vladimir Putin. They also advocate for regional autonomy and grassroots organizing. They believe that unsanctioned rallies are necessary to challenge the status quo.

The group's history is tied to the Moscow art scene. In 2011, 22-year-old Nadezhda Tolokonnikova helped found the collective. Some early members, including Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevich, were previously part of an anarchist art group called Voina. After a split from Voina in 2009, they formed this new group in the fall of 2011. A turning point occurred in February 2012 at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

Five members staged a performance inside the cathedral. This event gained global notoriety and was condemned by the Russian Orthodox Church as sacrilegious.

This 2012 performance led to significant legal consequences. Three members—Maria Alyokhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova—were arrested. They were convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. They were sentenced to two years in prison, though they were later amnestied and released on probation.

This sentence faced almost universal condemnation in the international press. Amnesty International designated the women as prisoners of conscience. While many Western groups supported them, public opinion in Russia was generally less sympathetic. In December 2025, the Russian Ministry of Justice added Pussy Riot to its list of extremist organizations.

The group's ideology is deeply rooted in feminism and LGBTQ rights. They argue that Russian government policies have discriminated against women, such as restrictions on legal abortions. Their feminism addresses the repression of authoritarian regimes. They aim to show that feminist issues remain urgent in Russia. Additionally, they are outspoken supporters of LGBTQ rights. They have participated in banned Moscow Pride rallies to protest against persecution. Tolokonnikova has also spoken about the importance of transgender rights within the movement.

Over time, the collective has experienced internal changes and splits. After their release from prison, Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina stated they were no longer members of the group. However, they continued to appear at events using the Pussy Riot name. This caused friction with other members. Some members accused them of using the name to make money from tours and songs. These disagreements led some to declare the original collective dead. Today, the name is often associated more closely with Tolokonnikova's individual projects. Despite these shifts, the group's influence on political art remains a subject of study.