Four members of Russian punk collective Pussy Riot have been jailed after they staged an on-field protest during the Word Cup final in Moscow earlier this week.
The four protestors — Veronica “Nika” Nikulshina, Olga Kuracheva, Olga Pakhtusova and Petya Verzilov — have been sentenced to “15 days in Russian jail” and are banned from attending sports events for three years, a representative for the group confirmed to Pitchfork.
Pussy Riot claimed responsibility for the protest after the four protestors (who were dressed in police uniforms) rushed the field during the Croatia vs. France clash.
Following the protest, Pussy Riot took to social media to claim responsibility and share a list of demands for the Russian government, including freeing political prisoners, allowing “political competition” in the country and ending “illegal arrests at protests”.
Read the group’s latest tweets about their jail sentences, below.
France beat Croatia to claim the 2018 World Cup Final with a score of 4-2.
Attention! The court has just sentenced the first Pussy Riot member, Veronica Nikulshina, with 15 days of administrative arrest (will spend them in a special prison) and banned her from visiting sports events. pic.twitter.com/e0hX5fQSzl
— ????? ????? (@pussyrrriot) July 16, 2018
Our second member, Olga Kurachova (pink hair, middle of the photo), got 15 days of administrative arrest as well. pic.twitter.com/AGY11xZScK
— ????? ????? (@pussyrrriot) July 16, 2018
And Pyotr Verzilov gets 15 days plus a ban to visit sports events for 3 years.
— ????? ????? (@pussyrrriot) July 16, 2018
Ourt fourth member, Olga Pakhtusova, gets 15 days of arrest and a ban to visit sports events for 3 years. pic.twitter.com/EdifeIg3tQ
— ????? ????? (@pussyrrriot) July 16, 2018
