Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova Placed on Russia’s Most Wanted List for Allegedly Offending Against Religious Feeling

Pussy Riot member Nadya Tolokonnikova has been placed on Russia’s most wanted list for allegedly offending against religious feeling. The charges stem from some images on her Instagram account that the Russian government deems offensive to Christianity.

The Charges and Background

According to reports, Nadya Tolokonnikova is facing criminal charges but no specific details of the case have been given yet by the authorities. She has been charged with “offending against religious feeling,” a crime that could lead to up to three years in prison.

This is not the first time that Tolokonnikova has run afoul of the Russian government. In 2012, she was sentenced to two years in a remote penal colony along with two other members of Pussy Riot for protesting Vladimir Putin’s return to the Russian presidency. She and her colleagues staged a demonstration dubbed “Punk Prayer” against Putin in a Moscow cathedral which led to their conviction for “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.”

Since then, Tolokonnikova has continued to use her art and music as protest tools against Putin’s regime. She has been actively criticizing Putin and his government, championing women’s and LGBTQ people’s rights.

The Charges’ Reasons

The exact reasoning behind the latest charges remains unclear, but Pussy Riot released footage of its latest protest video called “Putin’s Ashes” just a few days before the news was reported. In the video, they burned a painting of the Russian president and stabbed the earth while watching his ashes fall.

However, according to reports, it appears that the charges are related specifically to some images on Tolokonnikova’s Instagram account rather than to any actions depicted in the video.

Tolokonnikova’s Activism

Tolokonnikova sees herself as a political artist and will keep fighting despite the threats and charges against her. Earlier this year, Russian authorities dubbed her a “foreign agent,” even though she still considers herself a Russian citizen living in the US.

Despite these challenges, Tolokonnikova remains active in the art and music spaces. Recently, she curated an auction for Sotheby’s to benefit organizations supporting sexual and reproductive health care, education, and rights. She also created UkraineDAO, an NFT of the Ukrainian flag that raised more than $7m two days after Russia’s first military invasion of Ukraine.

Conclusion

The charges against Nadya Tolokonnikova for allegedly offending against religious feeling are the latest in the ongoing saga of Pussy Riot and their critique of Putin’s regime. It remains to be seen what specific actions led to these charges, but in any case, Tolokonnikova will undoubtedly continue to use her voice as a political artist to fight for change.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons