The face of Moscow-based feminist art group Pussy Riot, activist Nadezhda (Nadya) Tolokonnikova, is now on Russia’s most-wanted list for insulting the religious feelings of believers. The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs points to an NFT as evidence against Tolokonnikova.
A Pussy Riot NFT titled “Virgin Mary, Please Become a Feminist” is cited in the Russian government’s database, referring to it as “an expression of obvious disrespect in relation to the icon image of the Virgin Mary, depicted in an obscene form, so that the image is perceived as outwardly similar to the anatomical details of the female external genitalia.”
According to a local news report, in 2021 Tolokonnikova shared the said NFT on her social media accounts to sell it which made the government take action.
Following this Tolokonnikova tweeted “Any truly political artist risks their personal safety for the sake of their art. It is not a new concept for me. They threaten us but we cannot show fear. I will use the tools I have as an artist and crypto activist to keep fighting. I’m not a soldier, I’m an artist, art is my weapon. Glad to see they are scared.”
“But maybe the first time an NFT is being used as evidence to try to throw me back in jail. The Ukraine flag NFT for Ukraine DAO was sold for close to 7M dollars and the crypto community rallied around it – we sent funds on the ground to Ukraine, we saved lives,” the activist added.
Also Read: Auction of Ukraine Flag NFT Raises More than $6 Million
The law that Tolokonnikova is alleged to have violated was enacted in the wake of Pussy Riot’s anti-Vladimir Putin performance piece “Punk Prayer,” which took place in front of Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral in 2012.
The Pussy Riot Law, as Tolokonnikova calls it, punishes those who insult others’ religious convictions. Due to her participation in “Punk Prayer,” Tolokonnikova and fellow Pussy Riot members Maria “Masha” Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich, were sentenced to two years in jail.
After her release from prison, Tolokonnikova has continued to stage several protests against Vladimir Putin and the Russian government. The charges against Tolokonnikova are not specified yet.
Also Read: Pussy Riot Launched UnicornDAO to Support Women and LGBTQ+ Artists
