Video: Pussy Riot's new action "Like a Red Prison"
Punk band Pussy Riot took aim at President Vladimir Putin and how he runs Russia's oil industry Tuesday in its first video for almost a year.
In the video posted on Youtube, four members of the feminist art performance group climb up gas flares and dance on oil pipelines, wearing their trademark brightly colored masks, short dresses and tights.
The band, two of whose members are in jail over a protest in Moscow's main Russian Orthodox cathedral in February last year, pour what appears to be oil over a portrait of Igor Sechin, head of state oil firm Rosneft, in the video called "Like a Red Prison."
Criticizing the close relationship between Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church — the theme of their protest in Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral — they chant: "Your president is like an ayatollah in Iran and your church is like in the United Arab Emirates."
Group members accuse Putin of orchestrating a crackdown on dissent and persecuting political opponents since returning to the presidency in May of last year.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.