Rioting for a Riot
Pussy Riot shares their story of prison, music, and activism
“We are on [the] wanted list,” Masha Alyokhina, a Russian political activist and author, shared in an interview. “We will be sentenced up to eight years if we appear on the border. That’s how it is now.”
Alyokhina is not new to Russian or global news. In 2012, as a founding member of political punk band Pussy Riot, she and the band sang to defy Vladamir Putin and corruption in the Orthodox church. After just merely forty seconds of singing, two years of her freedom and life were stolen.
“Here was Putin running for a third term, and many people, in despair, left the country. But we didn’t want to emigrate. In our story, personal choices are political” (Alyokhina, Riot Days, 42).
In her book, Riot Days, Alyokhina describes her motives behind speaking out, as well as her no regrets with her actions. After five days of hiding, Alyokhina and other band members were discovered and arrested. Fighting for freedom of expression, Alyokhina believes she and her colleagues were not criminals. She believes they each had a right to speak.
“I have things. I have rights. I have a voice” (Alyokhina 128).
Masha Alyokhina’s Text: Riot Days
Ultimately, Russian courts did not agree with Pussy Riot’s stance, and they were each sentenced to six years in prison.
Photos of Pussy Riot’s August Edinburgh Fringe Festival performance
“Their only crime was being young, arrogant, and beautiful,” (Patti Smith, punk star and writer; Alyokhina 90).
In her text, Alyokhina reflects on and outlines the harsh conditions. She relays brutal comments and requests from prison guards, including forcing prisoners to strip. Despite the belittling environment, Alyokhina persevered. She refused to allow the prison to control her mind, and embodied the images of a political activist.
“Freedom in prison is an understanding you have to come to. Understanding their power, and living otherwise. Not being afraid to say no to them, taking a risk. Not being afraid to be alone in taking a risk. Not being afraid to make a mistake” (Alyokhina 169).
While in prison, Alyokhina met with human rights advocates and pursued ways to improve their lives- simply achieving the rights they, from day one, were supposed to possess.
“Should human beings have to live in iced-cold rooms, stuffing bread crumbs into cracks in the wall to keep out the draughts?” (Alyokhina 65).
Photo taken at August Edinburgh Fringe Festival performance.
The photo is of Alyokhina’s prison building during the winter.
In the end, Alyokhina was successful with her goal. She even was able to reduce her sentence from six years to two.
“I came to the court for all those who have no rights, for all those who have no voice, for all those who have the power to do so,” (Alyokhina 141).
In the August interview, Alyokhina described her journey suffering in prison and her ability to maintain saneness.
“I tried to keep my kind of freedom and stay who I am inside,” she said. “Prison is like tough conditions, but there are a lot of interesting things. … I mean, it can teach you to overcome some difficulties.”
Readers can learn more about her journey in her book Riot Days.
Pussy Riot Today
Pussy Riot members Eric J. Breitenbach and Masha Alyokhina greeting fans
Throughout the month of August, Pussy Riot, performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. The theme of the show: putting their own freedom at risk to call Putin out, the church, and corruption.
The show itself at Summerhall in Edinburgh was set as a rock concert. Lyrics expressed no fear or filter with eyebrow raising headlines:
Pussy Riot band members include Masha Alyokhina, Taso Pletner, Olga Borisova, and newest member Eric J. Breitenbach. Alyokhina, as an original member of the band, served two years in prison for the early activism. Pletner, from Crimea, joined later as Pussy Riot grew. (Pletner was unable to interview due to a show injury.) Borisova mentioned she was too young at the time to join in 2012. However, as Pussy Riot’s influence spread across the nation, she was captivated and felt compelled to change her role of assisting law enforcement, to fighting them.
“I was nineteen and actually a police officer,” Borisova said. “But hearing their story, I wanted to get involved.”
As for Breitenbach, as an already established musician, he wanted to join with his talents to contribute to the group and message. This past April, Pussy Riot performed in Breitenbach’s hometown of Vancouver, Canada, He offered his home as a place for members to stay and knew immediately his drum set needed a part.
“I’m really happy to share my energy and loud drumming to uplift the message of this group,” he said.
Travel today is normally frequent for this group, as some no longer have a home and embrace the nomadic lifestyle.
“I live quite everywhere,” Alyokhina said, and emphasized the trapping, permanent bars of her future if she returns to Russia.
The band primarily performed in Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival, then went to Liverpool to pursue a UK tour. In the past, tours have been seen across Europe, the United States, Canada, areas of South America, Australia, and New Zealand. Pussy Riot hopes to expand their terrain in the future.
Drummer Breitenbach highlights this vision:
“We’re interested in going places that the show hasn’t been before,” he said. “We’re looking at next steps to figure out places that we can go, where we have connections. Southeast Asia would be really great. Places we haven’t been in in general.”
I can personally attest that the band is extremely friendly and carry hearts to help others. They recognize not every fan is rich, and offer discounts for students and those in need. The staff gifted me with a poster, and Eric even signed for my blog!!!!!!!!!
Family and Support
As musicians travel, fans often wonder about their families’ lives. Especially considering the dangers surround by challenging Russian national authority, one wonders if the loved ones staying home are okay.
“So we all have parents who are in Russia,” Alyokhina explained. “Just recently, in the end of May, police came to many apartments.” She continues, “Basically that was quite brutal, and I mean the majority of parents are old people who are living their life and don’t involve in politics ever, so they were horrified because it’s like right, police, fist at the wall, searching for several hours … usually for the first time when people witness something like this it’s a trauma, especially with old people. It makes an effect.”
Both Alyokhina and Breitenbach agreed they have great community support with their work and mission.
“We have wonderful members,” Alyokhina said.
Breitenbach pointed out the encouragement he received from his own family.
“Personally, my family and friends have always been so supportive of me and my drumming career,” he said.
In fact, uplifting support is the reason Breitenbach not only creates joy for his drumming, but fuels his drive to promote the mission.
“Being in a room with people who support us every night makes it feel like it’s just surrounded by support, I feel like all the best people come to these shows,” he said. “There’s so much to feel bad about in the world, but it offsets by being in the room with so many amazing people.”
Breitenbach further elaborates how traveling and working with Pussy Riot is a great opportunity for expanding his network and making new friends.
“Speaking to everyone after the show is personally a huge reason why I do this, is to meet and connect with people and integrate all communities and DYI scenes. It’s why we’re here right now speaking to you, it’s just great to connect with people,” he said.
All band and staff members seem personable and intentional about connecting with fans. At the merchandise table, no one will fail to meet a member and even receive help with purchasing items. The group is clear to demonstrate a mission of spreading truth and fighting for justice, rather than making a huge profit off of the audience.
Russian Prisoners Today
While band members take advantage of their freedom in traveling, they are sure to recognize how not everyone on their side is as lucky.
As of February, the United Nation reports that over 2,000 political prisoners remain incarcerated. While facing harsh conditions, prisoners live with the threatening reality of enduring Alexei Navalny’s ending. Far too many even attempt suicide, as journalist Maria Ponomarenko admitted she tried, due to the torturous conditions.
Endeavoring to hold prison authority accountable and save prisoners, Alyokhina lives to ensure prisoners and their conditions are not forgotten.
“I want the world first to know about them,” Alyokhina said. “Because if many people don’t know that people are sacrificing their life to show the difference, and basically the price is like 8, 10 years, or even your life, just to call things how they are. And this is important.”
Band members hold Alyokhina’s beliefs and hopes to heart, as they all shape each day to grow the message’s reach. Pussy Riot remembers the pain original members endured, and strive to prevent it for others.
Breitenbach reminds us all of the importance in staying aware and active: “Don’t be indifferent. Read the news and support your local community to make the world a better place before you got here.”
August Edinburgh Fringe Festival performance
Want to learn more about Riot Days or send support? Check out their website and social media: