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| Pussy riot trial: 'We are representatives of our generation' | Pussy riot trial: 'We are representatives of our generation' |
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| They have targeted some of Moscow's most well-secured sites with their flash concerts – the metro, a jail, Red Square – but it was a 40-second performance inside Russia's official church that proved a step too far for a system increasingly intolerant of dissent. | They have targeted some of Moscow's most well-secured sites with their flash concerts – the metro, a jail, Red Square – but it was a 40-second performance inside Russia's official church that proved a step too far for a system increasingly intolerant of dissent. |
| "We are representatives of our generation," Maria Alyokhina told the court in an opening statement that reads like a manifesto, as Pussy Riot went on trial on charges of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. "It is important for me to understand whether the church is growing along with society or whether it remains a conservative institution. In the search for an answer, I did not expect a repressive and inquisition-like reaction." | "We are representatives of our generation," Maria Alyokhina told the court in an opening statement that reads like a manifesto, as Pussy Riot went on trial on charges of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. "It is important for me to understand whether the church is growing along with society or whether it remains a conservative institution. In the search for an answer, I did not expect a repressive and inquisition-like reaction." |
| Their lawyers called the court hearings worse than a Soviet-era show trial, although the consequences are likely to be less grave. | Their lawyers called the court hearings worse than a Soviet-era show trial, although the consequences are likely to be less grave. |
| In a move widely seen as a signal to the court, Vladimir Putin said last week he thought the women should not be judged "too severely". | In a move widely seen as a signal to the court, Vladimir Putin said last week he thought the women should not be judged "too severely". |
| Pussy Riot formed as an anonymous feminist punk collective in October 2010, in the weeks after Putin's declaration that he would return to the presidency after four years as prime minister. He had stepped down because the constitution did not allow more than two consecutive terms as president. His formal return, although expected, sent a wave of anger through segments of Russian society. Some began to refer to him as Tsar; others used the word "authoritarian". | Pussy Riot formed as an anonymous feminist punk collective in October 2010, in the weeks after Putin's declaration that he would return to the presidency after four years as prime minister. He had stepped down because the constitution did not allow more than two consecutive terms as president. His formal return, although expected, sent a wave of anger through segments of Russian society. Some began to refer to him as Tsar; others used the word "authoritarian". |
| The women of Pussy Riot, students and graduates of some of Moscow's most prestigious schools, were among that number. | The women of Pussy Riot, students and graduates of some of Moscow's most prestigious schools, were among that number. |
| "A lot of us couldn't sleep after this announcement," a member of the band, who identified herself as Tyurya, told the Guardian during a rare interview early this year. "We felt such anger because of this rudeness, this arrogance towards citizens. So we decided, damn it, we need to do something." | "A lot of us couldn't sleep after this announcement," a member of the band, who identified herself as Tyurya, told the Guardian during a rare interview early this year. "We felt such anger because of this rudeness, this arrogance towards citizens. So we decided, damn it, we need to do something." |
| They looked at their influences – the Riot grrrl movement, punk rock, feminist thinkers such as Judith Butler and philosophers including Michel Foucault – and the form of protest became clear. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, along with her husband, Pyotr Verzilov, was a longtime member of Voina, a radical art collective that shot to global notoriety after holding a protest orgy in a Moscow museum and painting a massive phallus on a drawbridge across from the headquarters of the FSB security services in St Petersburg. | They looked at their influences – the Riot grrrl movement, punk rock, feminist thinkers such as Judith Butler and philosophers including Michel Foucault – and the form of protest became clear. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, along with her husband, Pyotr Verzilov, was a longtime member of Voina, a radical art collective that shot to global notoriety after holding a protest orgy in a Moscow museum and painting a massive phallus on a drawbridge across from the headquarters of the FSB security services in St Petersburg. |
| "Art is politics," said Tolokonnikova when asked in January if Pussy Riot considered themselves protesters or artists. "We couldn't imagine ourselves without one or the other. We don't understand how an artist can think about society but say he's apolitical." | "Art is politics," said Tolokonnikova when asked in January if Pussy Riot considered themselves protesters or artists. "We couldn't imagine ourselves without one or the other. We don't understand how an artist can think about society but say he's apolitical." |
| They began gathering at the flat Yekaterina Samutsevich shared with her 73-year-old father, Stanislav, who attended every court hearing and was called to testify for the prosecution during the case against he daughter, whom he affectionately calls Katya. "At the end of last year, the girls began to gather at our home – they put some dresses together, drew something, talked," he told the court. "Katya didn't tell me what they were up to. I had no idea what it would lead to." | They began gathering at the flat Yekaterina Samutsevich shared with her 73-year-old father, Stanislav, who attended every court hearing and was called to testify for the prosecution during the case against he daughter, whom he affectionately calls Katya. "At the end of last year, the girls began to gather at our home – they put some dresses together, drew something, talked," he told the court. "Katya didn't tell me what they were up to. I had no idea what it would lead to." |
| What it led to was the most radical form of protest Russia has seen since demonstrators began taking to the streets in December to decry Putin's leadership. Pussy Riot carried out lightning punk performances around Moscow, shouting and stomping often until they were dragged away by police. Raw guitar was added to video clips later, creating a multimedia message that spread across the internet. Most shocking was their look – brightly coloured dresses and stockings accompanied by menacing balaclavas to ensure anonymity. | What it led to was the most radical form of protest Russia has seen since demonstrators began taking to the streets in December to decry Putin's leadership. Pussy Riot carried out lightning punk performances around Moscow, shouting and stomping often until they were dragged away by police. Raw guitar was added to video clips later, creating a multimedia message that spread across the internet. Most shocking was their look – brightly coloured dresses and stockings accompanied by menacing balaclavas to ensure anonymity. |
| "Our anonymity and visual look aren't common for female bands," Tyurya told the Guardian. "Even though we wear dresses, we make "unfeminine" movements. It's a multilevel way of breaking with traditional feminine behaviour." | "Our anonymity and visual look aren't common for female bands," Tyurya told the Guardian. "Even though we wear dresses, we make "unfeminine" movements. It's a multilevel way of breaking with traditional feminine behaviour." |
| They began by performing in the metro, still considered a strategic site under Russian law, and were once detained but quickly released. | They began by performing in the metro, still considered a strategic site under Russian law, and were once detained but quickly released. |
| Then came performances on posh Moscow streets and the roofs of city buses. When opposition leader Alexei Navalny was arrested at Russia's first big protest on 5 December and sentenced to 15 days in jail, they performed outside his cell. Their notoriety was sealed in January when eight members of the band took to a platform on Red Square calling for "revolt in Russia" and that "Putin has pissed himself" with fear. | Then came performances on posh Moscow streets and the roofs of city buses. When opposition leader Alexei Navalny was arrested at Russia's first big protest on 5 December and sentenced to 15 days in jail, they performed outside his cell. Their notoriety was sealed in January when eight members of the band took to a platform on Red Square calling for "revolt in Russia" and that "Putin has pissed himself" with fear. |
| On 21 February four members of the band walked into the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, a gaudy building built after the Soviet collapse that hosts Russia's senior officials on major holidays. They thought they were highlighting the church's increasingly close relationship with the state and what they saw as campaigning for Putin by Patriarch Kirill, its leader. | On 21 February four members of the band walked into the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, a gaudy building built after the Soviet collapse that hosts Russia's senior officials on major holidays. They thought they were highlighting the church's increasingly close relationship with the state and what they saw as campaigning for Putin by Patriarch Kirill, its leader. |
| "Our goal was to bring attention to Father Kirill's public statements that the Orthodox must vote for Putin," Alyokhina told the court. | "Our goal was to bring attention to Father Kirill's public statements that the Orthodox must vote for Putin," Alyokhina told the court. |
| Video of the stunt went viral and launched a passionate discussion about the church's collaboration with Putin. State-run media decried the performance. Two weeks later, the women were arrested. | Video of the stunt went viral and launched a passionate discussion about the church's collaboration with Putin. State-run media decried the performance. Two weeks later, the women were arrested. |
| "I thought the church loved its children," Alyokhina's statement read. "It turns out the church only loves those children who believe in Putin." | "I thought the church loved its children," Alyokhina's statement read. "It turns out the church only loves those children who believe in Putin." |
| All eyes were on the trial as the prosecution and its witnesses argued that the women were doing the devil's work, that their bright clothes were an insult to prayer, that they were motivated by a deep hatred of all Orthodox Christians rather than by anger at the Putin regime. Church representatives argued the trial was the work of God. | All eyes were on the trial as the prosecution and its witnesses argued that the women were doing the devil's work, that their bright clothes were an insult to prayer, that they were motivated by a deep hatred of all Orthodox Christians rather than by anger at the Putin regime. Church representatives argued the trial was the work of God. |
| Repeatedly denied the right to call witnesses, to make objections and, sometimes, even to speak, the defence also through protocol out the window and resorted to shouts and insults. It descended into a kangaroo court. | Repeatedly denied the right to call witnesses, to make objections and, sometimes, even to speak, the defence also through protocol out the window and resorted to shouts and insults. It descended into a kangaroo court. |
| Meanwhile the attention of global artists began to build, from Franz Ferdinand to Stephen Fry to Madonna. Pussy Riot chapters were launched throughout the world, imitation performances, balaclavas and all, carried out everywhere from Paris to Helsinki. All this for a band that has yet to release an album. | Meanwhile the attention of global artists began to build, from Franz Ferdinand to Stephen Fry to Madonna. Pussy Riot chapters were launched throughout the world, imitation performances, balaclavas and all, carried out everywhere from Paris to Helsinki. All this for a band that has yet to release an album. |
| "For all the radicalism of their actions, Pussy Riot are basically a pop crossover," said Michael Idov, the editor of Russian GQ. "They are a brilliant brand – they have a very compelling story and easily reproducible look and, let's face it, a great band name." | "For all the radicalism of their actions, Pussy Riot are basically a pop crossover," said Michael Idov, the editor of Russian GQ. "They are a brilliant brand – they have a very compelling story and easily reproducible look and, let's face it, a great band name." |
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