Pussy Riot members released after arrest in Sochi
By Josh Haggis
Two Pussy Riot members have been released from police custody after being arrested earlier today (February 18).
Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were arrested by Russian police on suspicion of committing theft.
The duo claimed they were simply walking down the street when they were arrested.
No charges were filed against Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina. Seven other people who were arrested along with the Pussy Riot members were also released.
Police said they were being questioned in connection with a theft at the hotel where they were staying.
The pair have allegedly been constantly followed by authorities since arriving in Sochi, where they intended to perform their song Putin Will Teach You To Love Your Motherland, a song said to be about “political repression in Russia”.
Tweeting about the arrest, Tolokonnikova wrote: “At the moment of detention, we were not conducting any actions, we were walking in Sochi. We are in Sochi with the goal of staging a Pussy Riot protest. The song is called ‘Putin will teach you to love the motherland.'”
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