How to become an “extremist” in Russia: the harsh testimony of a member of the activist group Pussy Riot
A Russian court has declared the activist group Pussy Riot an extremist organization. In practice, this means that using the name “Pussy Riot” or even sharing it on social media can be considered a crime, with penalties of up to five years in prison for “justification of extremism”writes Maria Aliohina, member of the group.
The activist group Pussy Riot, declared an extremist organization PHOTO: X/ @pussyrriot
Maria Aliohina describes the impact of this decision on the activists: “The same applies if you like or share these words on social media. Or, if you cut holes for eyes and mouths in a regular knit beanie, this one can now be considered an extremist hood. Same punishment. As I was writing this article, I realized that police officers wear hats with cutouts for eyes and mouths. Sure, they're not colored, but why is black worse than any other color?”, says Maria in an opinion piece published in The Moscow Times.
The activist also recalls hard personal experiences: “I spent two years in a penal colony in the Urals – a modern-day gulag. I was whipped, my head was broken and I was forbidden to leave the country. I endured a year and a half of house arrest and six periods of 15 days each in special detention centers. I was threatened that my child would be taken away, that he would be imprisoned.”.
Exile and life without a home
Despite the persecution, Alyokhina refused to leave Russia immediately: “Leaving Russia meant tearing my heart out. If it hadn't been for my loved ones, I would never have gotten into that car that simply headed west with an electronic ankle monitor and no passport. I have been living without a home for three and a half years, moving between hundreds of hotels and dozens of apartments. There are several million people in this situation – people without a home and essentially a country.”.
Maria Aliohina, member of the activist group Pussy Riot PHOTO: X/ @coughlthom
Aliohina explains that each of them has a “story about the moment when it became impossible to remain silent“. This includes relatives remaining in Russia, considered “hostages” and constant threats: “Criminal cases opened in Russia means only one thing: the road back is only a road to prison”.
The family and the loss of the father
The activist also talks about the loss of her father: “In July, my father died. It happened a month and a half after a search related to our last criminal case, for spreading “fake news about the Russian army”. My last conversation with my father was very short. I was late for our concert. He said to me: “I immediately understood why they came. I immediately understood that it was you, Masha. Well done – you managed to reach them even from there”.
Five members of Pussy Riot – Olga Borisova, Taso Pletner, Alina Petrova, Diana Burkot and Maria Aliohina received prison sentences in absentia, ranging from eight to 13 years.
Extremism redefined
In Russia, “extremism” has extended to any form of opposition: human rights activism, criticism of the military or Kremlin propaganda, the LGBT movement, feminism, and participation in anti-war protests are all considered criminal offenses. Aliohina explains: “Terrorists call us extremists. Isn't that absurd?”
She points out that the reasons why the group is not silent are simple: “We have not been silent. And we do not intend to be silent. We are organizing concerts in support of Ukraine. Ukraine must be able to live, not become part of Putin's gulag. I wrote this on the eve of Catholic Christmas. Russian propagandists are calling for you to be bombed every day, with conventional and nuclear weapons”.
Maria Aliohina warns that what is happening in Russia is not a local conflict, but one “hybrid war”: “You may or may not like Ukraine. But if Putin doesn't like something about it today and you allow the country to be conquered, tomorrow he may not like something about you and your house.”.
