She just can’t stop. Nadya Tolokonnikova – who goes by first-name Nadya only – was detained in Moscow yesterday after a demonstration in support of prisoners’ rights.
Prisoners’ rights has been a key focus for Nadya ever since she and two other Pussy Riot members were jailed in 2012 for performing A Punk Prayer, an anti-Putin declaration, in a Russian church.
Yesterday’s action, called Don’t Be Afraid, included prison reformer Katherine Nenasheva and involved Nadya sewing a Russian flag on the uniform she wore while she was in prison.
This is the statement Tolokonnikova gave prior to the action:
“For 30 days the activist Katherine Nenasheva will be living her regular life wearing a prison robe of a female convict. She goes to exams, takes meetings, goes to the movies, gets groceries, goes out – she continues her daily life.
“June 12 is the 18th day of Katherine Nenasheva’s action and also Russia Day – an important holiday in Russia that celebrates our flag and Constitution. On this day I am joining Katherine to sew a huge Russian flag in the same prison uniform that I wore during my time in the prison camps.
“We will sew the Russian flag on Bolotnaya square, the square that became the starting point for many years in prison for dozens of activists who went out to protest Putin’s regime in May 2012. So here we are, on this square, and we will sew the sign “PRISON CAMP RUSSIA” to the face of the Russian flag on Russia Day.”
No word yet as to whether Nadya’s detention will prevent her from coming to Toronto for Pride.
More to come as the situation develops.
susanc@nowtoronto.com | @susangcole
