Russian activists Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samutsevich decide to separate from the well-known activist group Voina and create their own group named Pussy Riot that would express their ideas of female independence, combining activism, feminism, and punk rock music. Their defeat in court becomes their moral victory, as Pussy Riot are cheered on by thousands of their new-found fans.

Act & Punishment: The Pussy Riot Trials

When Maria Alekhina and other members of the Pussy Riot group were tried for an action in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Orthodox activist Dmitry Enteo strongly advocated punishing the girls. Now Alekhina and Enteo spend a lot of time together. Last week, with activists from The Other Russia, they went to the Ministry of Justice to conduct a public Bible reading — as a demonstration of their constitutional right to read the Holy Scriptures (and any other books) in public — without permission from officials.

God Eats Love

A two-part documentary film about the state of Russia’s prisons today. In-depth interviews with former inmates of all stripes, including those convicted of political, economic, and violent crimes.

Prison. Correct Me If You Can

Riot Days is an inventive and shocking performance based on the memoirs of Maria Alyokhina from Pussy Riot. With this performance, one of the main art groups in the world traveled to more than 200 countries in Europe, the USA, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand. The performance received many prestigious awards, and also gathered an enthusiastic press.

Riot Days

“I want to show things how they are.”  Meet Maria (Masha) Alyokhina of the Russian activist movement Pussy Riot, who has been protesting against the regime of Vladimir Putin through public, colourful and non-violent actions for over a decade.  “The system pretends to have a serious face. That’s how they want the fear to go inside you and paralyse you. And we believe that the smile and humour break this fear.”  Maria Alyokhina describes today’s Russia as a totalitarian regime and the development since 2012 as “the road to hell”, reaching a low point with the attack against Ukraine in 2022.