Russian punk-activist band Pussy Riot performs at Partij voor de Dieren congress
The Russian punk-activist band Pussy Riot called on attendees of the Partij voor de Dieren (Party for the Animals) congress on Saturday to protest against "oppressive laws," stating that dictatorial regimes can rise gradually in any country.
The band appeared onstage with party leader Esther Ouwehand following her speech. Band member Maria Aljochina wore a shirt that said "I stand with Ukraine" and posed for photos with a large Ukrainian flag, prompting loud applause from attendees, according to RTL.
Aljochina spoke after performing at the event, telling the audience, “A dictatorship does not emerge in a single day. In Russia, it took ten years. So demonstrate against every oppressive measure.”
The demonstration and pro-Ukraine stance come amid growing debate within the Partij voor de Dieren over increasing defense spending. The party’s parliamentary group approved higher defense expenditures, leading some discontented members to form a splinter party, Vrede voor de Dieren.
Separately, band member Aysoltan Niyazova, originally from Turkmenistan, was arrested Saturday while attempting to cross the Lithuanian-Polish border. Pussy Riot said Turkmen authorities want her for her criticism of the regime, and she is listed with Interpol. Niyazova was previously detained in Croatia in 2022 under similar circumstances.
