Pussy Riot's bold Munich protest labels Putin a "war criminal"

The brief but bold performance by the anti-Kremlin punk rock group Pussy Riot at the Museum of Contemporary Art Old Pinakothek in Munich lasted only a few minutes. The museum's stairwell in the lobby turned into an impromptu stage where three group activists, with rhythmic sound and provocative flair, branded the President of Russia Vladimir Putin a "war criminal".

Wearing knitted masks, the artists denounced the destructive bombings in Ukraine and urged solidarity with its people. Their disdain for the Russian President was unmistakably clear when one of them lifted her skirt and urinated on a portrait of Vladimir Putin, shocking the audience.

This was a spectacle hitherto unseen at the Pinakothek, though Pussy Riot has staged such performances elsewhere. Shortly thereafter, the artists reappeared unmasked in black sweaters emblazoned with red letters: "No Putin, No War" — a straightforward message.

The activists were in Munich by invitation from Austrian artist and performer Wolfgang Flatz, who aimed to showcase Pussy Riot during a retrospective of his work at the Pinakothek. The event attracted many attendees eager to witness the Russian activists in action. Plans were in place for another impromptu show at the Munich Cultural Center Bahnwärter Thiel.

Flatz, who first encountered the group at a 2021 concert in his native Dorbrin, Austria, applauds Pussy Riot's political stance. The activists have faced prison, house arrest, and various repressive measures for their oppositional activities in Russia. He expressed immense respect for their bravery.

- There are few women who have the balls to stand up and publicize the political society and dangerous situation we are in - remarked Wolfgang Flatz, highlighting the rise of right-wing politics across Europe. He stressed the importance of speaking out, cautioning that silence now would leave us regretful and complicit later.

The punk rock group Pussy Riot, formed in 2011, merges music with pointed critiques of the Russian government. They rocketed to fame following their 2012 performance at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. Masked with scarves, they delivered punk prayers lambasting Kremlin policies, a move that led to their arrest.

Source: Deutsche Welle