Two members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot are making the media rounds, with one saying the group is “proud” that singing in a church brought the ire of the Russian government down on them.
Member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova told reporters gathered at a Tuesday press conference that the band members stand by their actions despite the consequences.
At the press conference, the women also expressed an admiration for “cool music” like the Clash and said they were holding on to their convictions.
“We are never afraid to perform,” Tolokonnikova said.
Five members of the Pussy Riot collective sang a protest song Feb. 21, 2012 at Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow against both Vladimir Putin and the government’s ties to the church. Three band members were subsequently arrested for the performance. Two were recently freed and are now talking to western media outlets.
The freed members aren’t about to stop protesting.
Even though they are now traveling in Europe and the United States, they said that they had no intention of emigrating or backing off; they plan to remain in Russia and concentrate their efforts on human-rights issues, particularly the plight of prisoners in Russian jails and prison colonies.
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