Pussy Riot

Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist punk protest collective formed in Moscow in 2011 by activists who split from the street-art group Voina. Members wear bright dresses and colorful balaclavas and stage unauthorized performances in public places, mixing punk rock with political dissent. Their causes include feminism, free speech, and LGBTQ+ rights, and they have spoken out against Russia's anti-gay laws. In 2012 they performed a "Punk Prayer" in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior to protest Putin's ties to the Orthodox Church. Three members were convicted of hooliganism and jailed, drawing global outrage and turning the group into a lasting symbol of resistance to authoritarianism. Russia has since labeled the group an extremist organization.