Support The Moscow Times!

Punk Band Could Face Prison Time for Church Performance

Members of all-female punk band Pussy Riot could face up to seven years in prison following their five-minute unauthorized performance in Christ the Savior Cathedral on Feb. 21, Gazeta.ru reported.

Police said they intend to charge the band, known for its provocative lyrics targeting Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, with hooliganism, which could lead to prison sentences of up to seven years.

The band's attorney, Nikolai Polozov, believes the charges won't hold up.

"Judging by the video I have seen, it is impossible to qualify what they did as hooliganism," he told Gazeta.ru on Monday.

The band is aware that the case has been opened but have not yet been summoned by police, he said.

The controversy began when members of the band performed for five minutes in the famous cathedral and were removed from the stage while performing a song called "Holy Sh--".

The band shot to fame when they staged a similar performance on Red Square with a song ridiculing Putin.

In an interview with Gazeta.ru on Monday, the band — whose members keep their identities a secret — said they have so far managed to avoid detention through having "fast legs and deft hands."

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

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.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more