Multiple Russian artists have homes searched one day after Pussy Riot case overturned

Several Russian artists and activists had their homes searched by law enforcement on Tuesday morning, according to human rights organisation Net Freedoms Project.

The mass searches come a day after a Moscow court overturned Pussy Riot member Pyotr Verzilov’s conviction for spreading false information about the Russian military on a technicality. Net Freedoms Project suggested that the mass searches could be connected to separate treason charges against Verzilov, who is now fighting against Russian forces in Ukraine.

Pussy Riot members Margarita Konovalova (known as Rita Flores), Olga Kurachyova and Olga Pakhtusova also had their homes searched, independent news outlet Mediazona reported. Kurachyova was reportedly taken away for questioning, while Pakhtusova is incommunicado.

UPDATE 2:19 PM
Katrin Nenasheva alongside four other artists and activists who were also detained earlier on Tuesday, have been released by the authorities after questioning.

FSB officers in St. Petersburg released Nenasheva, along with artist Kristina Bubentsova and her husband Anton after interrogation, Telegram channel Party of the Dead reported.

Art historian Ksenia Korobeynikova said that artists Andrey Olenev and Artyom Filatov had also been released after being interrogated in Nizhny Novgorod. She said they were witnesses in the Verzilov case.

Members of the Yav Art Group and Verzilov’s mother also had their homes searched, while artist Yegor Kholtov was detained after being searched in Ulyanovsk, in Russia’s Volga region, according to Net Freedoms Project. In Moscow, a friend of exiled artist Philippenzo was also taken away by law enforcement, it added.

In St. Petersburg Federal Security Service officers came to the apartment of artists Katrin Nenasheva and Natasha Chetverio with a search warrant. Chetverio said on Telegram that the agents began to knock on the door loudly at around 7am.

Another post on Chetverio’s Telegram channel half an hour later read: “Another Natasha here. Natasha and Katrin’s apartment is currently being searched. I ask anyone who knows great lawyers in St. Petersburg who can help right away to contact me privately.”

After the search, Nenasheva was taken away in a car without licence plates, Telegram channel Sota reported.