Two more Pussy Riot members arrested over rainbow flag protests

OVD-Info and Avtozak Live have reported the arrest of two more Pussy Riot activists in connection with a LGBTQ rights protest action, timed to coincide with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s birthday last Wednesday. 

According to OVD-Info, Pussy Riot member Temuuzhin Sambuudavaagiyn (Tim Bestsvet) was arrested near the Moscow City Court building on Tuesday October 13. He was taken to a police station in Kitay Gorod, where he was written up for an administrative violation. Police officials plan to keep Sambuudavaagiyn in custody pending trial, which will presumably take place on Wednesday, says Apologia Protesta lawyer Mansur Gilmanov.

According to Avtozak Live, Pussy Riot member Alan Leongrad was placed under arrest at the same police station later in the day.

Both activists were involved in a LGBTQ rights protest last week, which Pussy Riot members carried out on Putin’s birthday, October 7. The activists hung LGBTQ flags from key government buildings in Moscow, including the Federal Security Service (FSB) headquarters, the Presidential Executive Office, the Supreme Court, the Culture Ministry, and the Basmanny District police headquarters. 

Law enforcement officers arrested Pussy Riot members Vasily Andrianov, Elizaveta Diderikh, Maria Alyokhina, and Veronika Nikulshina in connection with the protest last week.

On October 9, Pussy Riot activist Alexander Sofeev was found guilty of repeatedly violating the rules on conducting public events and sentenced to 30 days in jail.