Overview

• A Moscow district court last week tried five Pussy Riot members in absentia and imposed prison terms ranging from eight to 13 years tied to their antiwar performances.
• The convictions cite the charge of discrediting the Russian armed forces over the music video "Mama, Don't Watch TV" and an April 2024 appearance in Munich that referenced Mariupol.
• The court asserted the artists deliberately spread slander and false information about the Russian military.
• Speaking from exile, Diana Burkot stood by the video and issued a blunt rejection of the ruling, saying she would say "F*** you" even if she were in Russia.
• Burkot called the punishments an attempt to control free speech and said the case could block her from obtaining official documents as her Russian passport expires in 2029, limiting time to seek naturalization elsewhere.