Although two members of the Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot have been released from prison, the two women are not going to stop voicing opposition to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
Three members of the group were arrested in early 2012 for performing at a major Moscow church, voicing opposition to Putin, who was just about to be elected again.
Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were released from prison on Monday after nearly two years in prison. Their release followed a new Russian amnesty law. Their bandmate, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was also imprisoned, but released in October 2012.
After their release, Alekhina and Tolokonnikova instantly called it a publicity stunt, noting how close it came to the Sochi Winter Games. They told the media that they planned on creating a human rights organization and gave more detail on their plans in a press conference today.
According to Voice Of Russia, their organization will be called Law Zone and they hope to also fight for the rights of other prisoners.
“It began when we started engaging in human rights activities where we served our terms. Our lives are closely connected to this project,” Tolokonnikova said. She added that they are currently working on how to finance the group.
The Associated Press reports that they also said they want to see Putin out of office soon.
image: Tolokonnikova; Wikimedia Commons