Pussy Riot founder Nadya Tolokonnikova placed on Russia's Wanted List

Pussy Riot co-founder Nadya Tolokonnikova has been placed on Russia's wanted list, the Associated Press reports, citing information from the Russian Interior Ministry’s database of wanted individuals.

The list was first discovered by Russian independent media outlet Mediazona– which was co-founded by Tolokonnikova in 2014– and alleges that the artist is under criminal indictment for disobeying Part 1 of Article 148 of the Russian Criminal Code, the section which prohibits "insulting the feelings of believers." The entry does not divulge the details of the charges.

“Oopsie," Tolokonnikova wrote earlier today to her Instagram. "I was just added to Russia’s federal wanted list." The artist and activist is seen in lingerie, flipping off the camera.

 

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A post shared by • NADYA (@nadyariot)

Court documents, sent to Pitchfork by Tolokonnikova's team, stipulate that the activist has been posting things to her social media that the Russian government deems offensive to Christianity.

The translated charges additionally cite a a Pussy Riot NFT (Virgin Mary, Please Become a Feminist), calling it “an expression of obvious disrespect in relation to the icon image the Virgin Mary, depicted in an obscene form, so that the image is perceived as outwardly similar to the anatomical details of the female external genitalia.”

NADYA TOLOKONNIKOVA IS ADDED TO RUSSIA’S FEDERAL WANTED LIST, COURT PAPERS POINT TO NFT ART AS EVIDENCE 💾

VIRGIN MARY, PLEASE BECOME A FEMINIST (collected by @PleasrDAO )
THE FIRST NFT ART SO PROVOCATIVE IT CAUSED A CRIMINAL CASE <3

From the criminal case papers (official… pic.twitter.com/YIaVxPJJ19

— 𝖕𝖚𝖘𝖘𝖞 𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖙💦 (@pussyrrriot) March 29, 2023

This news comes just two months after art dealer Jeffrey Deitch opened an exhibit featuring "Putin's Ashes," a protest piece created by Tolokonnikova and the rest of the Pussy Riot collective this past summer. The accompanying short film depicts Pussy Riot burning an effigy of Vladamir Putin and then stabbing the ground where the ashes fall.

Tolokonnikova believes the controversial piece inspired the charges. "Coincidentally my Instagram vanished and this new criminal case was announced within a week of the show,” the 33 year-old said in a statement, adding "Any truly political artist risks their personal safety for the sake of their art. It is not a new concept for me. They threaten us but we cannot show fear. I will use the tools I have as an artist and crypto enthusiast to keep fighting. I’m not a soldier, I’m an artist, art is my weapon. Glad to see they are scared."

Tolokonnikova spent nearly two years in notorious Russian labour camp Mordovia in the early 2010s for her performance of 'Punk Prayer.' Containing the lyrics "Birth-giver of God, drive away Putin!", the video depicts the collective in ski masks at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral. Taking to court, the Russian government declared this act "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred," and three of the performers were sentenced to prison.

As of now, Tolokonnikova resides in the US. She is still a Russian citizen, and is not looking to acquire refugee status, she told Rolling Stone earlier this year.