European tour against the war – Pussy Riot performs against Putin’s patriarchy – culture


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Putin tried several times to silence the group. Now Pussy Riot are touring Europe – with a clear message against the war in Ukraine.

The audience in Munich’s Stadttheater is already cheering enthusiastically before the performance has even begun. Then four figures slowly become visible in the stage fog: Marija Alyokhina, who has secretly left Russia for the European tour that has just started. Diana Burkot, who has been involved in the collective since its beginnings. Newcomer Olga Borisova, who was a police officer before joining Pussy Riot. And Anton Ponomarew, who accompanies the women on the saxophone.

Legend:

In a mixture of concert, rally and theater, the activists tell a story of resistance, repression and revolution.

KEYSTONE/DPA/Bernd von Jutrczenka

Two years in a prison camp for a few seconds of protest

“Riot Days” is the title of the performance. A mixture of concert, rally and theatre. A genre all its own, which the group already distinguished when they performed in February 2012.

At that time, four Pussy Riot activists in neon-colored dresses, tights and balaclavas held a punk prayer in Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral: “Holy Mother of God, chase Putin away!” They chanted.

Pussy Riot in front of Christ the Savior Cathedral

Legend:

Her performance in front of the world-famous cathedral caused an international sensation in 2012 – and sparked controversial debates about art, religion and politics.

IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

This performance made Pussy Riot famous worldwide – and ended with a show trial for Nadja Tolokonnikova, Ekaterina Samuzewitsch and Marija Alyokhina: For a few seconds of protest, they were sentenced to two years in a prison camp.

Anti-war tour of Europe

Despite this, Pussy Riot has always kept going. The group is currently touring Europe with an anti-war performance. Alyokhina made her goal clear at a press conference before the Munich concert: “First of all, this tour should show that we stand behind Ukraine,” she explained. “Secondly, we fight against the general indifference to the war.”

Pussy Riot member on stage in Berlin.

Legend:

Tour start in the Berlin Funkhaus: The activist group collects donations for the Ukraine with their performances.

EPO/FILIP SINGER

In addition, Pussy Riot wanted to draw attention to the fact that almost all cultural workers and intellectuals who made up Russia are in prison. “Only because they protested against Putin and the war,” says Alyokhina.

Escape in delivery uniform

She herself should go to jail again, this time for a pro-Navalny post on Instagram. Instead, she snuck out of house arrest disguised as a food deliverer. Past the police officers who have been spying on her for years, she made it to Berlin via Belarus and Lithuania. The anti-war tour kicked off there on May 12 with a total of 19 stops.

Artistic statements against the war are important, according to Alyokhina: “Art can change the world. It can paint a different picture of what is happening now or of what will happen in the future.” That is why totalitarian and authoritarian states are afraid of political art.

«Europe finances this war»

But, and this is important to Alyokhina: Art alone is not enough. Because art can inspire. But we really have to change something ourselves. It was incomprehensible to her that Western politicians continued to shake hands with Putin after the annexation of Crimea as if nothing had happened.

Even now, Western Europe is doing far too little against Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine: “How can you still give these people money?” asks the activist.

Maria Alyokhina and Diana Burkot at a press conference in Munich.

Legend:

Diana Burkot and Maria Aljochina before their performance in Munich as part of the “Riot Days 2022”. She wears the electronic ankle bracelet on Alyokhina’s leg as a symbol of the suppression of art by the Putin regime.

KEYSTONE/DPA/Matthias Balk

Europe is financing this war by buying oil and gas from Putin. It’s not too late to understand that – not yet.

Howling sirens instead of guitar riffs

Suddenly, sirens blared from the speakers. They are the intro to the song “Ukraine, I love you” – the last song that Pussy Riot sing that evening in Munich. It is about the war, its victims and Putin’s propaganda.

The song sticks, as does the warning repeatedly displayed on the screen behind the main stage: “There is no freedom if you don’t fight for it every day.” A fight that the activists have been fighting for over ten years. Not only for their freedom, but also for ours.

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