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| 2 in Russian Protest Band Held, Then Freed, in Sochi | 2 in Russian Protest Band Held, Then Freed, in Sochi |
| (7 months later) | |
| SOCHI, Russia — Two members of the punk protest group Pussy Riot, recently released from prison under an amnesty program initiated by President Vladimir V. Putin, were arrested here on Tuesday in what they said was an attempt to prevent them from carrying out a new political protest action. | |
| The two women, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, were detained along with other members of the group who were apparently working with them on a new song. The arrests occurred in central Sochi, about a 30-minute drive from the Olympic Park. | The two women, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, were detained along with other members of the group who were apparently working with them on a new song. The arrests occurred in central Sochi, about a 30-minute drive from the Olympic Park. |
| The women and their collaborators were released from a police station in the Adler district early Tuesday evening, and at least five of them emerged wearing the colorful balaclavas that are the group’s trademark. | The women and their collaborators were released from a police station in the Adler district early Tuesday evening, and at least five of them emerged wearing the colorful balaclavas that are the group’s trademark. |
| Speaking with reporters outside the police station, Ms. Tolokonnikova said that since arriving here on Sunday she and the others with her had been detained repeatedly by the police, border guards and the Federal Security Service, the successor to the Soviet K.G.B. | Speaking with reporters outside the police station, Ms. Tolokonnikova said that since arriving here on Sunday she and the others with her had been detained repeatedly by the police, border guards and the Federal Security Service, the successor to the Soviet K.G.B. |
| “People are following us,” she said. “They track our every move and look for any excuse to detain us.” They were detained, she said, “so that we wouldn’t have a chance to make a political statement here.” She was referring to the band’s new song, “Putin Will Teach You to Love the Motherland.” | “People are following us,” she said. “They track our every move and look for any excuse to detain us.” They were detained, she said, “so that we wouldn’t have a chance to make a political statement here.” She was referring to the band’s new song, “Putin Will Teach You to Love the Motherland.” |
| Ms. Tolokonnikova and Ms. Alyokhina became an international cause célèbre after they and a third member of the group were convicted in connection with a protest act that they staged in Moscow’s main cathedral, praying to the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Mr. Putin. | Ms. Tolokonnikova and Ms. Alyokhina became an international cause célèbre after they and a third member of the group were convicted in connection with a protest act that they staged in Moscow’s main cathedral, praying to the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Mr. Putin. |
| They were sentenced to two years in prison, while the third woman, Yekaterina Samutsevich, received a suspended sentence on appeal. They were freed in late December, a few weeks before their scheduled release, in an amnesty that they said was intended to make Mr. Putin look broad-minded and tolerant in the days leading up to the Olympics. They have said they would rather have served their full sentences. | They were sentenced to two years in prison, while the third woman, Yekaterina Samutsevich, received a suspended sentence on appeal. They were freed in late December, a few weeks before their scheduled release, in an amnesty that they said was intended to make Mr. Putin look broad-minded and tolerant in the days leading up to the Olympics. They have said they would rather have served their full sentences. |
| In Sochi on Tuesday, the Russian authorities said the group members were being questioned in connection with a theft in the hotel where the two women were staying. Supporters of the group dismissed that explanation, saying the theft investigation was a pretext for interfering with the production of the new song. | In Sochi on Tuesday, the Russian authorities said the group members were being questioned in connection with a theft in the hotel where the two women were staying. Supporters of the group dismissed that explanation, saying the theft investigation was a pretext for interfering with the production of the new song. |
| The detentions appeared to be a serious public relations mistake by the local authorities, and quickly developed into a major media sensation. The women posted messages on Twitter describing their arrests in detail, including their trip in a police vehicle to the station. | The detentions appeared to be a serious public relations mistake by the local authorities, and quickly developed into a major media sensation. The women posted messages on Twitter describing their arrests in detail, including their trip in a police vehicle to the station. |
| Ms. Tolokonnikova and Ms. Alyokhina have continued to criticize Mr. Putin and the Russian government since their release on Dec. 23. The new song makes reference to more recent political developments, including an effort by the Kremlin to pressure Dozhd, an independent television station, into shutting its operations. | Ms. Tolokonnikova and Ms. Alyokhina have continued to criticize Mr. Putin and the Russian government since their release on Dec. 23. The new song makes reference to more recent political developments, including an effort by the Kremlin to pressure Dozhd, an independent television station, into shutting its operations. |
| “The air is closed for Dozhd,” the women sang, pumping their fists in the air and stopping traffic as they were surrounded by a swirl of journalists in a quiet, residential neighborhood here near the police station. “The gay parade has been sent to the outhouse.” | “The air is closed for Dozhd,” the women sang, pumping their fists in the air and stopping traffic as they were surrounded by a swirl of journalists in a quiet, residential neighborhood here near the police station. “The gay parade has been sent to the outhouse.” |
| “Putin will teach you to love the motherland,” they repeated, the chorus of the song. | “Putin will teach you to love the motherland,” they repeated, the chorus of the song. |
| In a series of messages on Twitter, Ms. Tolokonnikova said that the two women were detained three times in three days here. | In a series of messages on Twitter, Ms. Tolokonnikova said that the two women were detained three times in three days here. |
| “On the 16th, we were detained for seven hours,” she wrote. “On the 17th, we spent 10 hours with the F.S.B., and today we are in a police wagon, accused of theft.” | “On the 16th, we were detained for seven hours,” she wrote. “On the 17th, we spent 10 hours with the F.S.B., and today we are in a police wagon, accused of theft.” |
| As for what they were doing, Ms. Tolokonnikova wrote, “We are in Sochi to hold a Pussy Riot action.” | As for what they were doing, Ms. Tolokonnikova wrote, “We are in Sochi to hold a Pussy Riot action.” |
| Although there had been numerous calls for political protests during the Olympics, particularly over Russia’s law banning “propaganda” on nontraditional sexual relationships, the Games so far have been largely devoid of political demonstrations. | Although there had been numerous calls for political protests during the Olympics, particularly over Russia’s law banning “propaganda” on nontraditional sexual relationships, the Games so far have been largely devoid of political demonstrations. |
| The Kremlin initially tried to ban political protests outright in Sochi. Mr. Putin then issued a decree in January saying that demonstrations could take place, but only with government permission and at a designated location. The local authorities chose a park in the village of Khosta, about 10 miles from the Olympic arenas, and have since said that there were few, if any, applications for rallies. | The Kremlin initially tried to ban political protests outright in Sochi. Mr. Putin then issued a decree in January saying that demonstrations could take place, but only with government permission and at a designated location. The local authorities chose a park in the village of Khosta, about 10 miles from the Olympic arenas, and have since said that there were few, if any, applications for rallies. |
| Some activists, including a local environmental organization, have said that they tried to apply for permits but were strongly pressured by the authorities to withdraw their requests. | Some activists, including a local environmental organization, have said that they tried to apply for permits but were strongly pressured by the authorities to withdraw their requests. |
| Vladimir Luxuria, a transgender former member of the Italian Parliament, said she was detained by the authorities on Sunday night after appearing in the Olympic Park with a banner that said “Gay is O.K.” in Russian. | Vladimir Luxuria, a transgender former member of the Italian Parliament, said she was detained by the authorities on Sunday night after appearing in the Olympic Park with a banner that said “Gay is O.K.” in Russian. |
| Ms. Luxuria was released early Monday and returned to the Olympic Park on Monday night, wearing the gay pride movement’s signature rainbow colors, and was detained when she entered the Bolshoi Ice Dome hockey arena. | Ms. Luxuria was released early Monday and returned to the Olympic Park on Monday night, wearing the gay pride movement’s signature rainbow colors, and was detained when she entered the Bolshoi Ice Dome hockey arena. |
| Olympic officials denied on Monday that she had been detained the first time, but a spokesman for the Italian Foreign Ministry said she was held for two hours on Sunday at a police station, and had been in touch with the Italian consul in Moscow. | Olympic officials denied on Monday that she had been detained the first time, but a spokesman for the Italian Foreign Ministry said she was held for two hours on Sunday at a police station, and had been in touch with the Italian consul in Moscow. |