'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT/xAAiEAABAwMDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgQRAAMFBgcSCBMiMZL/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIDQf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8Aid7/AOoTjxbts27XJOJW0AWbiFJJ4mRAiOJME+zUKeorU4SO5h8OpceR43BJ+6UoQOzH/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Searching for Pussy Riot's content online is soon going to be criminalized in Russia.
Russia has passed a new law that will soon make it illegal to search for online content labeled "extremist" by the government. The legislation comes into effect on September 1, 2025. It will criminalize looking up multiple items, including performances by the feminist punk group Pussy Riot.
Pussy Riot has not been a mainstream presence in Russia for years. However, their influence has seemingly not faded in the Kremlin. The group's protest performances were once watched around the world. Now, under this new law, typing the name of one of their banned videos into a search bar could result in fines of up to 5,000 rubles, which is around $64.
In addition, for anyone promoting tools that help bypass censorship, like VPNs, the financial penalties can be more severe, reaching around $12,800 for companies, reports suggest.
Who are Pussy Riot?
Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist protest and performance art collective that formed in Moscow in 2011. They earned global recognition in 2012 after performing a guerrilla punk prayer titled Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Chase Putin Away at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The act eventually resulted in the arrest and imprisonment of members, including Nadezhda (Nadya) Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina.
Their performances often criticize President Vladimir Putin, the Orthodox Church, and issues like censorship, gender inequality, state violence, and more. Songs such as Putin Has Pissed Himself, Death to Prison, Freedom to Protest, and Free the Cobblestones are part of their discography. These videos have been officially labeled as "extremist" by the Russian Justice Ministry since 2012.
Notably, co-founder Nadya Tolokonnikova launched the Artist Action Foundation in 2023. It works alongside the Artistic Freedom Initiative (AFI) to support artists who are targeted by authoritarian regimes.
Tolokonnikova was jailed in 2012 for her activism. She now lives in exile. She told Al Jazeera in 2023:
"If people decide to stay in Russia, they cannot talk anymore. Otherwise, they will just end up in jail for dozens of years or be killed."
Below are the four Pussy Riot performances, which are now officially criminal to search for:
- Free the Cobblestones
- Kropotkin Vodka
- Death to Prison, Freedom to Protest
- Putin Has Pissed Himself
The last of these was performed in Red Square in 2012. It was an act of protest against the Russian president.
Pussy Riot's 2025 'Riot Days'
The collective continues to tour internationally. Their remaining confirmed 2025 Riot Days tour itinerary is as follows:
- Saturday, July 26, 2025 – Torres Vedras, PT – Bang
- Tuesday, August 12, 2025 – Edinburgh, UK – Summerhall
- Wednesday, August 13, 2025 – Edinburgh, UK – Summerhall
- Thursday, August 14, 2025 – Edinburgh, UK – Summerhall
- Friday, August 15, 2025 – Edinburgh, UK – Summerhall
- Saturday, August 16, 2025 – Edinburgh, UK – Summerhall
- Sunday, August 17, 2025 – Edinburgh, UK – Summerhall
- Tuesday, August 19, 2025 – Edinburgh, UK – Summerhall
- Wednesday, August 20, 2025 – Edinburgh, UK – Summerhall
- Thursday, August 21, 2025 – Edinburgh, UK – Summerhall
- Friday, August 22, 2025 – Edinburgh, UK – Summerhall
- Saturday, August 23, 2025 – Edinburgh, UK – Summerhall
- Sunday, August 24, 2025 – Birkenhead, UK – Future Now
For ticketing information, one can head to the official Pussy Riot website.
Reply
