The protest and art collective have released a new song called Track About Good Cop.
A press release states, “This track is a utopian dream about alternative political reality in which instead of arresting activists and putting them in jail cops are joining activists. The world where cops got rid of homophobia, stopped the war on drugs and actually understood that it’s much better to be joyful and nice to people.”
An accompanying video, directed by member Nikita Chaika, has been released, featuring policemen dancing in the snow. In the video’s caption, the group have listed the following demands:
1. Free Pussy Riot members Olga Pahtusova, Olga Kuracheva, Nika Nikulshina, Peter Verzilov, who are jailed for 15 days for their “Policeman Enters The Game” action during the World Cup.
2. Free Oleg Sentsov and other political prisoners.
3. Don’t put people in jail for likes and reposts.
4. Stop mass arrests at political rallies.
5. Stop fucking with Navalny.
6. Stop imprisoning so many people for 228 article of Criminal code (drug offenses).
7. Cancel 282 article of Russian Criminal code (“extremism”, one of the main political criminal articles)
8. Freedom of speech and expression in Russia.
9. Give a federal TV-channel to an activist media outlet “Mediazona” (zona.media)
The track comes after four members have been sentenced to 15 days in jail for misdemeanour offences. Last weekend, members Olga Pahtusova, Olga Kuracheva, Nika Nikulshina and Peter Verzilov rushed onto the pitch during the World Cup Final between France and Croatia. Pussy Riot claimed responsibility for the invasion shortly afterwards, which they called “Policeman enters the Game”. In an online post, they demanded that political prisoners be set free.
Subsequently, the four protestors spent the night at the police station with no access to sleeping or washing facilities. A video surfaced of two of the members being interrogated by Russian police. According to a tweet by Max Seddon, one of the police officers could be heard saying, “It’s a shame it’s not 1937 anymore”. Their lawyer, Nikolay Vasilyev, was initially denied access.
However, today (17 July) also marks a victory for the group as the European Court of Human Rights has condemned the Russian government for their severe treatment of the Pussy Riot members after their 2012 protest at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The group performed the song Punk Prayer, which criticised the Orthodox Church’s support for Putin.
The collective have also announced via a Crack Magazine interview that they’ll be releasing two new tracks called КОШМАРЫ / NIGHTMARES and PONG!
Watch Track About Good Cop via the player above, and view Pussy Riot’s updates below.
