The P***y Riot activist turned Kremlin informer

屁孩暴乱活动家转为克里姆林宫情报员

Today in Focus

2026-09-29

31 分钟
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Their opposition to Putin led to two of the group being sent to brutal prison camps. Then another was found to be spying for the Kremlin. Shaun Walker reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
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  • This is The Guardian.

  • Today, the pussy riot artist who turned Kremlin informer.

  • Quick warning before we start, there is some strong language in this episode.

  • It's January 2012 in Red Square, Moscow.

  • Snow covers the cobbles and dusts the onion globes of St. Basil's Cathedral.

  • The clock on the Kremlin chimes 11am.

  • Eight women in colourful balaclavas leap onto a stone platform, worn with an electric guitar.

  • It's Pussy Riot, a new feminist punk band, and their latest song.

  • Putin has chickened out.

  • Or pissed himself, to use the band's preferred translation.

  • It's quite a punchy number.

  • You can watch it all on YouTube, but I'll translate the first verse for you.

  • The rebellious column is heading to the Kremlin.

  • Windows are exploding in FSB offices.

  • Bitches are pissing behind the red walls.

  • Riot declares abortion on the system.

  • Inspired by the Arab Spring the previous year, Pussy Riot hoped to bring revolution to Russia

  • and stop Vladimir Putin becoming president for the third time.

  • But it wasn't to be.

  • The state cracked down hard.