By Maria Padhila
In February, three women got up on an altar in a Moscow cathedral and sang a prayer. The prayer went like this: “St. Maria, Virgin, Drive Putin Away!” It had some fierce guitar work as well as sweet choral portions. And they sang it wearing masks and short dresses.
They’re now looking at up to seven years in jail. They’ve been in detention since March. Last week, they were denied bail, and their trial is set for July 20. Such is the penalty for speaking out about gender, relationships, LGBT rights and politics in Russia today (and maybe here, tomorrow).
Last month when I was doing my volunteer shift picking up trash at Artomatic, a DC open arts event where a building slated for demolition is given over to un-juried, first-come-first-served art installations, I saw a backdrop with an elaborately decorated gothic-style altar and the words “Free Pussy Riot!” I started talking to the artist, and that’s where I learned the story.
Pussy Riot is a free-floating (except when jailed) band of punk rockers and activists in Russia. Their punk protest issues include LGBT and gender rights, as well as opposition to Putin and the government. They’re usually anonymous, and they change their assumed and actual names and personnel on a whim. They perform in balaclavas that hide their features, and wear bright-colored tights and plain, skimpy dresses, so anyone can easily don Pussy Riot gear. Hair, makeup, even gender — doesn’t matter. This is not rock star territory. Men can be members of Pussy Riot; so can anyone on the spectrum. They do not perform in clubs or theaters or at music events. Every performance is a guerrilla one.