In their first press conference since their release, the two freed Pussy Riot members — who had been serving two-year sentences for their performance of an anti-Putin "punk prayer" at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in February 2012 and were originally schedule for release in April 2014, but were let out early because of a new amnesty law — have plans to form a prisoners' rights organization but will put politics and performing as Pussy Riot on hold. They are also urging Western countries to boycott the Winter Olympics in Sochi, according to Billboard.
That isn't to say Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina aren't ruling out art or political activities in the future, but for now they don't have plans to capitalize on the Pussy Riot brand or even use it going forward.
"We feel a huge responsibility for people who are in prisons," Tolokonnikova said at a news conference in Moscow Friday. The two members said they are forming a non-governmental human rights organization called "Zona Prava" ("Justice Zone"), which will focus on protecting prisoners' rights. They also mentioned hopes to collaborate with former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was released last week after ten years in prison, on an ideological level but will not ask him for money.
"We won't ask anyone for financial assistance," Tolokonniokva said. "Khodorkovsky is very important for us as a very strong and resilient person."
They plan to finance the program through crowd-funding. The board of the organization includes, among others, opposition activist and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny, who will serve as treasurer.
The two women said that their art activities in the near future with have to do with prisoners' rights protection including art programs for inmates rather than Pussy Riot shows.
"We are not Pussy Riot now," Tolokonnikova said. "We can promote our cause without playing any shows," Alyokhina added. "And we will never play any shows for money."
The two members believe that the current cultural situation in Russians prisons is so horrid that it will require a "cultural revolution."
Despite human rights activities in Russia inevitably being linked to politics, the two women don't have immediate political plans. "I wouldn't rule out political plans," Tolokonnikova said. "But in the near future we will be focused on human rights activities."
They said that one of the first ideas they will try to promote is access for members of international human rights organizations to be able to enter Russian prisons for inspections.
As for Yekaterina Samutsevich, the third jailed Pussy Riot member, who was released on probation, the Alyokhina said, "If she wants to help us with what we are doing now, we will only be glad."
Despite possibly facing a new crackdown from authorities surrounding the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the two women say they won't leave the country. "This is a done deal," Alyokhina said.
Instead, they ask Western nations to boycott the Olympics. According to Tolokonnikova, "attending the Olympics is the endorsement of Russia's internal policies."
Watch their interview with CNN here, and let us know what you think in the comments section below!
