Pussy Riot attacked by Cossack militia in Sochi (Video)

The punk group Pussy Riot were attacked today in Sochi while staging an impromptu performance under a sign advertising the Olympic games. Five women and one man donned their signature ski masks, and, as they began to perform, were immediately set upon by Cossacks—members of the ’people’s militia’ loyal to Putin—and other security forces. They were whipped, pushed, punched, thrown to the ground and otherwise assaulted in an encounter that last about three minutes.

Alexander Tkachev, governor of Russia’s Krasnodar region — which includes Olympic host Sochi — promised to conduct a probe and prosecute the attackers involved in the incident.

Three members of Pussy Riot were found guilty of hooliganism in August 2012 after running into Moscow’s Christ the Savior cathedral in March of that year, performing a song urging the Virgin Mary to “drive away” Russian President Vladimir Putin. In December 2013, Putin granted amnesty to the members.

In January, the NewsHour talked with journalist Masha Gessen, who corresponded with Pussy Riot and chronicled their rise as human rights figures in her book “Words That Will Break Cement.”

Agencies/Canadajournal