Two members of performance-art collective Pussy Riot have left Russia following multiple arrests since May this year, RFE/RL reports.
Between June and July, Veronika Nikulshina and Aleksandr Sofeyev had both been arrested twice within a matter of weeks, and both made the decision to leave on 18 and 19 July respectively, citing the ‘ongoing state persecution of Pussy Riot members’.
Sofeyev and Nikulshina were repeatedly arrested for allegedly disobeying police and have been charged with incidents of ‘minor hooliganism’. Each arrest resulted in a 10-15 day sentence, often recurring as soon as they finished one sentence. Upon their decision to leave the state, Sofeyev and Nikulshina claim that they had been followed to the airport by officers of the Interior Ministry’s anti-extremism directorate.
Another member of Pussy Riot, Anna Kuzminykh, also indicated she planned to leave Russia. Sofeyev has said he may return to the after the country’s legislative elections in September.
