Five members of the exiled Russian punk art collective Pussy Riot have been sentenced to prison in absentia by the Moscow Basmanny District Court. Those sentenced include Maria Alyokhina, Diana Burkot, Taso Pletner, Olga Borisova, and Alina Petrova.

These recent charges stem from two previous performances. In December 2022, the group released a music video called “Mama, Don’t Watch TV.” This was cited as spreading “false information” about the Russian military. Two years later, in April 2024, members staged a protest performance in Munich, Germany. This allegedly involved Taso Pletner urinating on a portrait of Vladimir Putin.

The in absentia charges would only take effect if any of the listed defendants were extradited to Russia. As such, the five members have stated that they reject th

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