Skip to content
Riot Fest
Tickets
Search
  • Lineup
  • Tickets
  • Fest Info
    • Daily Schedule
    • Album Plays
    • FAQ
    • Lockers
    • Hotels
  • Merch
  • Upcoming Shows
  • Community
    • Beyond the Fest
    • Community Tickets
    • Local Hiring
    • Park Cleanups
    • Vendor Workshop
    • Community Meeting
  • Search
Pussy Riot Gets Out of Jail, Immediately Re-Arrested, Then Released Yet Again

Pussy Riot Gets Out of Jail, Immediately Re-Arrested, Then Released Yet Again

In Other News, Putin is Still a Dick
August 2, 2018 (August 2, 2018) // Jennifer Osborne

It seems Vladimir is picking on girls again. After four of our favorite Russian ruble-rousers stormed the field during the 52nd minute of the World Cup Final on July 15 in protest of Putin’s hideous policies, four members of Pussy Riot were jailed, then released, then detained again… and finally, freed again the next day.

Dressed in old-fashioned police uniforms, three female and one male Pussy Rioter ran out onto the field during the game with Russian officials in hot pursuit. The protest quickly turned into a short, spirited game of tag between the scattering protesters and officials, with one player even high-fiving a protester. The fun came to a quick end after two minutes, as band members were nabbed by officials one by one, dragged from the field, and immediately detained.

After some classic Russian-style due process (read: there was not a fair trial), Veronika  Nikulshina, Olga Kuracheva, Olga Pakhtusova, and Pyotr Verzilov were sentenced with the shameful act of “the organization and holding of public events without prior written notice,” and found themselves in the Gulag facing 15 days of detainment, and a three year ban from sporting events (thankfully, Riot Fest is not considered a sporting event).

NEWS FLASH! Just a few minutes ago four Pussy Riot members performed in the FIFA World Cup final match — ”Policeman enters the Game”https://t.co/3jUi5rC8hh pic.twitter.com/W8Up9TTKMA

— (@pussyrrriot) July 15, 2018

Just after rushing the field, Pussy Riot claimed responsibility for the event through a single tweet. Citing Russian poet Dmitriy Prigov’s images of heavenly and earthly policemen as inspiration, they listed some more-than-reasonable demands for Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin, ranging from halting illegal arrests at rallies to ending the fabrication of criminal accusations. Putin, the world’s foremost expert in putting the “dic” in dictator, didn’t appreciate the tweet and detained the four members again, immediately after they were released from their fifteen day sentence. Naturally, they spent their time in the pokey singing songs of freedom and laughing, and were thankfully released once again yesterday.

To recap, we’ve put together this handy Pussy Riot timeline for you:

✶  July 15, 2018: Pussy Riot storms the World Cup field like a bunch of champions
✶  July 15, 2018: Pussy Riot arrested and thrown into jail
✶  July 30, 2018: Pussy Riot released from jail
✶  July 30, 2018: Pussy Riot arrested and thrown into jail again
✶  July 31, 2018: Pussy Riot released from jail again
✶  September 14-16, 2018: Pussy Riot will be at Riot Fest again

Don’t be a pussy! Support human rights in style by buying cool swag from the Pussian Federation here. Free Pussy!


Smash the state in your own little way by buying tickets to Riot Fest 2018, September 14-16 in Chicago’s beautiful, non-authoritarian Douglas Park. Tickets on sale now.

The Related Rabbit Hole

Default ThumbnailTwo Pussy Riot members flee Russia Default ThumbnailYekaterina Samutsevich of Pussy Riot freed Pussy Riot Continue World Cup Protest With “Track About Good Cop”
About The Author
Jennifer Osborne

Jennifer is an NYC-based writer, a Leo, a lifelong music lover, co-author of The Other Hollywood: The The Uncensored Oral History of the Porn Film Industry and was a contributing editor on I Slept With Joey Ramone: A Punk Rock Family Memoir by Mickey Leigh with Legs McNeil.

Posted in Riot Fest 2018

Post navigation

  Previous PostNext Post 
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Spotify
Riot Fest Tickets
Upcoming Shows Playlist
Riot Fest Presents Shows
Jun. 25, 2025
Metro
Less Than Jake

Less Than Jake

The Suicide Machines

Fishbone

Bite Me Bambi

Tickets(Opens in new window).
Less Than Jake
Jun. 25, 2025
Cobra Lounge
Aurorawave

Aurorawave

DoneFor

Droogs AG

Tickets(Opens in new window).
Aurorawave
Jun. 26, 2025
Metro
Less Than Jake

Less Than Jake

Fishbone

The Suicide Machines

Bite Me Bambi

Tickets(Opens in new window).
Less Than Jake
Jun. 26, 2025
Cobra Lounge
The Native Howl

The Native Howl

Tejon Street Corner Thieves

CRICKET!

Tickets(Opens in new window).
The Native Howl
Jul. 1, 2025
Cobra Lounge
Strung Out

Strung Out

Death By Stereo

Counterpunch

Tickets(Opens in new window).
Strung Out
Jul. 2, 2025
Bottom Lounge
Tripping Daisy

Tripping Daisy

Jumprope

Tickets(Opens in new window).
Tripping Daisy

MORE SHOWS

Greatest Hits

2025 FESTIVAL PARTNERS


  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Spotify
  • Mail

NEWSLETTER — FAQ — CONTACT — HISTORY

InstagramTwitterYouTubeTikTokFacebook

Copyright © 2025 Riot Fest Corporation. Privacy Policy.

Search for:

Send me emails so I don’t have to go to your website anymore.