Pussy Riot is not for Pussies

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or anyone not living in a cave we are all well aware of the turmoil happening around the world. And for many of us this turmoil is something that flickers across our television screens which we can easily dismiss with a flick of the wrist. But for the people actually living in these tumlotous circumstances there is no “getting away from it all,” there is no vacation from life. This is the life they have to live — but they don’t have to like it.

Pussy Riot created quite a ruckus in their home country when they performed a piece of performance art in the form of a puck rock song on the alter or “soleas” of Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior. They were arrested and charged with “hooliganism” which here in the states we associate with teens egging someone’s house; but in Russia being charged with this crime carries quite the penalty — two years in prison to be exact. Of the five members arrested, two fled the country, once was acquitted, and the remaining two Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina went to prison.

I can hardly imagine that Nadezhda or Maria envisioned themselves gracing the pages of America’s fashion bible—Vogue, when they were belting out their discontent on the steps of a house of worship in the heart of Russia, but a platform is a platform and they have plenty to say. The Vogue story speaks of prison abuses such as women living with AIDS and TB without medical care and prisoners being attacked by guards for not having their work detail completed in time. Since their release and sudden high profile Nadezhda and Maria have formed a non-profit humanitarian group called Zona Prava which means Zone of Rights in Russian. They aim to monitor and report (and hopefully improve) on Russia’s often secretive prison system. This will not be an easy battle for them and although they may enjoy celebrity like status in the west, in their home country it is a different story. They are seen as villains and have even been attacked by the public. Of corse they do have their supporters, generally in the form of the intelligentsia, but taking a stand in Russia is not like taking a stand in the states. There is no going back to your democratically free, upper middle class home when the novelty of being a punk rock squatter on the streets of New York wears off. Nope, for them it is the real deal.

Nadezhda and Maria are returning to Russia after their world-wind celebrity tour of the west to continue with their work in improving conditions for prisoners. Unlike some who may have been tempted to stay in the west and work from afar, Nadezhda and Maria are marching back in to the fire. It is going to be an uphill fight for sure, but for anyone that calls themselves “Pussy Riot” I am sure they got it covered.

For a more in-depth story and account of Pussy Riot and the future for Nadezhda and Maria and their group Zona Prava please visit Vogue.com and you can also follow them on twitter @pussyrrriot

Image via Amnesty International