Rebel in Russia
Russia currently has a culture of
oppression and a ruthless leader,
but Nadya Tolokonnikova is not
afraid to stand up and fight for
Nadya Tolokonnikova, a young Russian activist, continues to fight for what she believes in
against all odds. She has brought multiple extremely relevant issues out of the shadows
through the world famous punk-rock band, Pussy Riot. Tolokonnikova has exposed Russia’s
homophobic and sexist attitude. She works hard to change Russia for the better by staging
protests through performance art, filing lawsuits, and touring with her band to spread her
message to other countries.
Tolokonnikova began her career with the controversial street art group Voina, which staged
many protests, including one against the homophobic atmosphere in Russia and corruption in
the police force. This protest was called “Operation Kiss Garbage” and involved several of the
group’s female members, including Tolokonnikova, forcibly kissing police women in public
(Pussy Riot Pt. 1).
Tolokonnikova has since left Voina and now protests through performance art with Pussy Riot.
They stage seemingly random performances throughout Russia. Tolokonnikova and another
member of Pussy Riot were jailed after performing in a cathedral in Moscow ("Pussy Riot."
Wikipedia). Tolokonnikova served two years inprison, but was released three months early
because Putin wanted the public to stop fighting for Tolokonnikova’s release for the Olympics.
Tolokonnikova performed again in Sochi on February 19, 2014, where she was whipped with
horse whips by Cossack militiamen. One Cossack
Militiamen used pepper spray and three people were
hospitalized (Faircloth). Pussy Riot was performing its
song, “Putin Will Teach You To Love The Motherland.”
Many of Tolokonnikova’s protests focus on sexism, and
Pussy Riot is one of the best known Russian feminist
groups, along with Feman. Feman recently protested
Putin in Germany by running at him topless with the words “F*ck dictators” written across their
chests (Crocker). Although Pussy Riot supports Feman, the groups do not work together.
Pussy Riot and Feman are up against a lot of hate. This idea is best exemplified by one
journalist, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, who displayed a common Russian view on feminism when she
wrote that feminists are “unfulfilled in their personal lives and bent on revenging themselves
on men for their own unhappiness” (Crocker). People in Russia hate feminism so much, some
have started a “non-feminist” political party encouraging the “restoration of the family.” In a
country largely influenced by the Orthodox Church, where only 14 percent of parliamentarians