Pussy Riot charged after World Cup pitch invasion

News
By ( Louder ) published

Russian punks Pussy Riot are charged by authorities after they invaded the pitch during yesterday’s football World Cup final

(Image credit: Ian MacNicol - Getty)

Russian punk outfit Pussy Riot have been arrested after they invaded the pitch during yesterday’s football World Cup final.

Three people dressed as police officers ran on to the pitch during the France v Croatia match at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday, while another was detained on the sidelines. The group posted a video claiming responsibility for the invasion which they say they did to to draw attention to police impunity in the country.

Reports says that three members of the group, along with a male, have now been charged with “violation of spectators’ rights” following the incident and they could face penalties of 11,500 rubles or 160 hour of community service.

A post on their Twitter feed reports: “Current situation: The four Pussy Riot members spent the whole night at the police station – note that there are no conditions to sleep, eat, take a shower etc – and are still there and going to be brought to the court. They are facing charges for administrative offences so far.”

Pussy Riot hit the headlines in 2012 when former members Nadya Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina were each jailed for 22 months after they were found guilty of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” after they performed a “punk prayer” in a Russian Orthodox cathedral.

Scott Munro
Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 37 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 12 years, Scott has written more than 11,500 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.