Street named after Pussy Riot

In Krasnoyarsk, activists of the local art group "Migraine" decided to support Pussy Riot in an unusual way: they chose several streets where churches stand and hung signs on them with the names of the arrested members of the punk group. Thus, the streets familiar to the townspeople on January 9 and Surikov (on which the Holy Annunciation Monastery and the Intercession Cathedral are located) for one day turned into N. Tolokonnikova Street, M. Alekhina Street and E. Samutsevich Street. Krasnoyarsk Solidarity activist Denis Styazhkin spoke as a speaker from an anonymous art group and told PublicPost the details of the action.

Photo: Denis Styazhkin

— Tell us how the action went? Did Migraine activists hang up signs under cover of darkness?

The fact of the matter is that everything happened in broad daylight. They came and hung up these fairly large signs. The new street names were very visible. People passed by and looked. But not everyone in our city knows what these names mean, not everyone is up to date. I was there as a photographer. None of the passers-by were particularly interested in what these signs were or asked why this was being done. People looked calmly and moved on. And all this hung there for more than a day. One sign may still be hanging there.

— Are members of the art group being persecuted somehow now?

They have not yet revealed themselves, adhere to anonymity, and call each other by nicknames. And why pursue them? The only thing they fall under is the law on posting advertisements.

Photo: Denis Styazhkin

-Have they done anything like this before? Have you spoken out in defense of Pussy Riot?

In the spring, immediately after the detention of the Pussy Riot members, they carried out a very creative action - they danced in balaclava masks in alcohol stores, and then conducted a survey of the drinking population on how they felt about dancing in stores, whether it hurt their feelings. And there all sorts of local drunks answered: “Yes, we are Orthodox, this offends us,” etc.

— Patriarch Kirill will come to Krasnoyarsk in September. Will the Migraine participants prepare anything for his arrival?

Yes, he arrives on September 15 or 17. “Migraine” does not want to talk about this yet, because if they say anything, they will definitely be persecuted.

Photo: Denis Styazhkin