Pussy Riot: A conversation with Russia's controversial punk rock band
Monday, November 21, 2016 - 7:30pm
Forum:
Monday, November 21
The Rickshaw Theatre presents
Pussy Riot: A conversation with Russia's controversial punk rock band
with a special guest moderator & a performance by a local punk rock band.
Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist punk rock protest group based in Moscow. Founded in August 2011, it has a variable membership of approximately 11 women ranging in age from about 20 to 33. They stage unauthorized provocative guerrilla performances in unusual public locations, which are edited into music videos and posted on the Internet, as well as reported widely by international media. Their lyrical themes include feminism, LGBT rights, opposition to the policies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom they regard as a dictator, and links between Putin and the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church.
In 2012, five members of the group staged a performance in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior, protesting the Orthodox Church leader’s support for Putin during his election campaign. On March 3, two of the group members, Nadezdha Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina were arrested and charged with hooliganism. A third member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was arrested two weeks later. On August 17, the three members were convicted of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred,” and each was sentenced to two years imprisonment.
The trial and sentence attracted considerable criticism, particularly in the West. The case was adopted by human rights groups including Amnesty International, and by a number of prominent entertainers. Having served 21 months, Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina were released on December 23, 2013. Alyokhina now travels the world speaking against the issues mentioned above in Russia. On this tour, she is joined by Pussy Riot's Media Zona collaborator & editor, Alexandra (Sasha) Bogino. Since October, 2015 working as a reporter in Mediazona, a news outlet, connected with Zona Prava organization, which was founded by Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina of Pussy Riot and currently provides legal and informational support to Russian prisoners and criminal defendants. In 2014-2015 Sasha Bogino reported on several demonstrations in Moscow — against the war conflict in Ukraine, censorship in Russian media, current government and elections. Wrote about trial of Nadya Savchenko, a Ukrainian female solider, who was convicted in killing two Russian journalists during an air strike in Eastern Ukraine.
In May, 2016 took part in the Raoul Wallenberg’s Committee roundtable in Budapest as a representative of Mediazona and Zona Prava. Currently investigates the Wallenberg’s case and tries to enlighten the circumstances of his imprisonment and death in the Soviet Union.
In July, 2016 investigated the death of a 27 years old soldier from North Ossetia, who believed to be murdered by his colleagues in a military unit in Moscow suburb. Now writes mostly about Russian opposition activists, political prisoners and conditions they face in jail.
TIERED TICKETING - Buy early to save a few bucks!
Tier 1 - $19.50 + s/c - On sale Friday, Sept 23 at 10AM
Tier 2 - $22 + s/c - On sale Friday, Sept 30 at 10AM
General Admission - $25 + s/c - On sale Friday, Oct 7th at 10AM