Two members of outspoken Russian punk band “Pussy Riot” were detained Tuesday in Sochi as part of an investigation into a theft that occurred at a local hotel.
Pussy Riot members detained in Sochi
Two members of the controversial Russian band were detained in Sochi on Tuesday.
Elena Vlasova-USA TODAY Sports
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina were detained along with several others near Sochi’s ferry terminal, according to a report by the Associate Press. Police were investigating a theft from the hotel in which Tolokonnikova and Alekhina were staying, eventually detaining the group before releasing them on Tuesday.
Pussy Riot made international news leading up to the Sochi games for their arrest and prosecution for hooliganism and religious hostility. Tolokonnikova and Alekhina spent almost two years in prison for performing their song “Punk Prayer” in a Cathedral in which criticized the Russian Orthodox Church and their relationship with President Vladimir Putin. the band used the phrase “holy shit” in a song, which was deemed blasphemous by Russian courts and served as part of their conviction.
Tolokonnikova and Alekhina were released as part of a pardon prior to the games, but vowed they would attend in part to continue their protest, according to a report from the New York Times.
“We are in Sochi to hold a Pussy Riot action,” she wrote. “The song is called, ‘Putin Will Teach You to Love the Motherland.” However, she said they had not yet carried out any protest and were merely walking in Sochi when they were stopped by the authorities on Tuesday.
There is no indication at this time where their detainment Tuesday was linked to the planned protest.
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