September 28th 2024.
Olga Borisova, a member of the feminist art collective Pussy Riot, has been facing ongoing persecution by the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin. This week, she and her fellow members were shocked to find out they had been added to Russia's wanted list. This came as a surprise, as Olga was currently in London supporting a Ukrainian children's hospital by raising funds through her protest work and performances.
The accusations against her and her colleagues were outrageous - they were being accused of sponsoring terrorism. This charge was especially absurd since the group was actively supporting a children's hospital. Olga, who is also an activist and performance artist, refused to let this fear-mongering tactic paralyze her. She has been a vocal critic of the Kremlin and has been living in London since 2022, when Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Despite facing multiple arrests in Russia for her activities with Pussy Riot, Olga has continued her work and now holds a global talent visa in the UK. The latest tour of their acclaimed play, Riot Days, has been raising money for the Okhmatdy Children's Hospital in Kyiv. This cause is especially close to their hearts as the hospital was hit by a Russian missile in July, killing two adults and injuring 32 people, including children.
The Kremlin's crackdown on dissent has only intensified since the beginning of the war, with new laws criminalizing any criticism of the government's actions. This recent targeting of Pussy Riot is just another example of the regime's intolerance towards any form of opposition. Just weeks ago, a US-Russian woman was sentenced to 12 years in prison for making a small donation to an American charity that supports Ukraine.
Olga and her fellow members, Maria Alekhina, Alina Petrova, Diana Burkot, and Taso Pletner, were added to the wanted list by the Russian Federation. This move is not only a direct attack on Pussy Riot, but also a warning to anyone who dares to speak out against Putin's regime. Olga believes that even those who are not as well-known as Pussy Riot are at risk, as long as they are supporting Ukraine and opposing Putin's war.
However, despite the dangers and the need to leave their homes in Russia, Olga and her colleagues refuse to be silenced. They continue to find new ways to protest and raise awareness, even from afar. Recently, they participated in an art show in London called "Brainwashing Machine," which focused on the use of propaganda in modern Russia. Olga herself contributed a piece titled "Drink My Blood," which contained a USB stick filled with a red substance in a test tube.
The courage and determination of Olga and the other members of Pussy Riot serve as a reminder of the risks that come with speaking out against the oppressive regime in Russia. The death of leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny earlier this year was a shocking example of the lengths that Putin's government will go to in order to silence dissent. Olga and her fellow activists, however, refuse to be intimidated and will continue to fight for human rights and democracy, even from afar.
Olga Borisova, along with her fellow members of the feminist art collective Pussy Riot, has been facing repeated targeting by the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin due to their activism. Recently, Olga was shocked to learn that she had been added to Russia's wanted list while she was busy supporting a children's hospital in Ukraine.
As an activist, performance artist, and book editor, Olga has been a vocal critic of Putin's regime and refuses to be silenced by fear. After leaving Russia in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine, Olga and her fellow Pussy Riot members have continued their protest work, including appearing in their acclaimed play "Riot Days" during its world tour.
The news of being wanted by Russia came as a shock to Olga and her fellow members, as they discovered it randomly through a bank account being frozen. According to state media, they have been accused of sponsoring terrorism, which is absurd considering they have been raising funds for a children's hospital. Olga questions where the limits of repression and fear are for Putin's regime.
Having been arrested multiple times in Russia for her activism, Olga now resides in London after being granted a global talent visa. The latest run of the "Riot Days" tour has been raising money for a children's hospital in Kyiv, which was hit by a Russian missile, resulting in the death of two adults and injuries to 32 people, including children.
The crackdown on dissent in Russia has intensified since the invasion of Ukraine, with new laws criminalizing criticism of the war. This targeting of Pussy Riot comes just weeks after US-Russian woman Ksenia Khavana was jailed for 12 years for donating $50 to an American charity that supports Ukraine.
Olga, along with her fellow members, has been added to the wanted list, which also includes Maria Alekhina, Alina Petrova, Diana Burkot, and Taso Pletner. She believes that anyone who supports Ukraine, whether they are famous like Pussy Riot or unknown individuals posting poetry on social media, is now considered an outlaw by the Russian regime.
Despite the danger of speaking out against Putin's regime, Olga and her fellow members refuse to be silenced. She feels safe in London and continues to find new forms of protest, such as participating in an art show called "Brainwashing Machine," which focused on modern Russian propaganda.
One of the founders of Pussy Riot, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, also contributed to the art show with her piece "Drink My Blood," which consisted of a USB stick filled with a red substance suspended in a test tube. Olga and her fellow members may be out of the Kremlin's immediate reach, but they continue to use their voices and talents to stand up for human rights and democracy. Olga believes that the recent death of leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny is a reminder of the risks that dissenters face in speaking up against the regime. She also acknowledges that fame is no longer a shield against Putin's regime and that they must continue their fight for justice and freedom.
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