OFM Gallery: Pussy Riot at the Gothic Theater on 11/09/23

As a student in Gender Studies and Political Science— disciplines often denied in certain countries—I was already familiar with the activist work of the political-feminist alternative-rock group Pussy Riot.

The group’s Denver performance was a whirlwind encompassing their personal narratives and a staunch condemnation of Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian regime. The portrayal was raw, personal, and meticulously provocative, spotlighting their fight against Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian rule and corruption within the Russian Orthodox Church.

While all vocals were exclaimed in Russian, illuminating the group from behind was a documentation in English that showcased their incendiary 2012 protest performance at Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral and their work that followed after. This beginning attention-grabbing performance in 2012, titled “Punk Prayer,” was a protest against the close ties between the Russian Orthodox Church and Vladimir Putin’s government. The song criticized the church’s support for Putin and called for the Virgin Mary to “drive Putin away.”

As their activism continued on stage, infusing electronic-synthesized music, violin, and fierce punk-feminist intensity, the performance immersed fans in a shared battle cry for change. Dawned in their infamous brightly colored ski-masks, Maria Alyokhina, Olga Borisova, Diana Burkot, and Alina Petrova, moved through their story of resistance, imprisonment, and determination that shook the entire venue. Echoed by the audience, they shouted about the vitality of fighting for feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, and freedom of expression.

Following the show, I had the privilege of speaking with Maria Alyokhina, who stressed the responsibility of both Pussy Riot and their fans. She emphasized the importance of translating their message into action, urging audiences not to take our voting privilege for granted.

Alyokhina explained, “It is important to us to show this now because next year you have elections and we believe in all our heart that we don’t want a second time [to be] bad, like someone like [Putin]….so we want to show our story as an example of what can happen in a country which lose democracy and lose freedom and unfortunately what happened with us now is happening systemically with thousands of people and plus war. So I mean we were worried a little bit that…it would be hard to reach a lot of [people], but actually I have not seen any comments that were hard. It is cool and I love it.”

Alyokhina discussed their interactions with fans across the United States and Europe, expressing the group’s commitment to sharing their story of anti-Putinist resistance. Particularly poignant were her reflections on the ongoing war in Ukraine, highlighting the dire situation of providing support to Ukrainians and the urgency to halt Putin’s brutal imperialism.

Alyokhina emphasized, “It’s really meaningful for me that people send feedback and are showing and saying what they feel,” underscoring the impact of audience engagement. She passionately urged readers to understand the gravity of the war in Ukraine, pointing out the larger implications beyond the country’s borders if Putin’s aggression goes unchecked.

She went on to say that “It is already one year and a half of the war, and several big cities have been completely occupied and occupations means systematic tortures, murders, and they continue to bomb other cities. They continue to kill people…Friends of my really good friends, I mean some of their men are not alive anymore and I mean how do you explain the tragedy. I mean the main thing that people here should understand [is] that this is not only a question about Ukraine, but if Vladimir Putin will not be stopped, other countries will be attacked. Because he is crazy, militaristic, [and] ambitious to build the dead bodies of the Soviet Union [and] army forces, and it is like this. So this should be stopped.”

Since her release from prison in 2013, Alyokhina has continued her tireless work with Pussy Riot, advocating for numerous social and political causes, and becoming an author with her memoir, “Riot Days,” documenting her experiences within the group and their activism.

After their performance, I was absorbing as much of it as I could and I was still feeling my heart racing from the music. The experience was more than a mere concert; it was a fervent rally, a shared responsibility reverberating within every soul present.