Pussy Riot Say Two Members Have Gone Missing After Being Detained By Russian Security In Crimea

Update: Pussy Riot has shared an update on Twitter saying that Olya Borisova and Sasha Sofeev have been found, and while they “were detained several times,” they’re “safe now.”



Pussy Riot’s penchant for making a scene has gotten them into trouble a bunch of times over the years, so news of the band being detained or arrested isn’t particularly out of the ordinary. The band’s latest legal issue, however, seems serious, and it might be more than just a spat with the law. This morning, the band posted a message on Twitter saying that after being detained by Russian security agency FSB in Crimea yesterday, Pussy Riot members Olya Borisova and Sasha Sofeev have “disappeared”:

“Two Pussy Riot members are missing. Olya Borisova and Sasha Sofeev disappeared in Crimea yesterday. FSB detained them several times. Yesterday cops broke their phones and computers. We can not reach out to them. We don’t know what has happened to them.”


Billboard notes that a spokesperson has confirmed that the tweet is accurate, and there is currently no other information available. Radio Free Europe also reports that three Russy Riot members were detained in Crimea (which was annexed by Russia in 2014) and taken into custody: Borisova and Sofeev on Sunday when they arrived in the Ukrainian peninsula, and Maria Alyokhina on Monday. Crimean lawyer Emil Kurbedinov said that the three were brought to a medical institution for testing, and that there are no details available beyond that. It was later reported that Alyokhina was released, while Borisova was taken to a police station.

(via Billboard)