Pussy Riot activist Lucy Shtein declared wanted in Russia

Moscow, May 16 (EFE).- Russia has declared Lucy Shtein, a member of the art collective Pussy Riot, wanted after she fled the country in a dramatic sneak-out, disguising herself in a delivery-service uniform following the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian military.

Shtein’s details were included in the Interior Ministry’s database of wanted persons.

Earlier, the government had included Maria Alyokhina, a co-founder of the punk band and performance art group, on the wanted list.

Alyokhina has also sneaked out of Russia and is now in Lithuania.

She was sentenced in 2021 to one year of restrictions on her movement for violating health regulations during the coronavirus pandemic by calling for anti-government protests for the release of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Shtein had to wear an electronic ankle tag 24 hours a day during her house arrest.

She posted a video on her Instagram handle showing how she cut off the tracking device before escaping from her home.

Shtein has said she was no longer willing to stay in the country after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb.24.

The Russian authorities arrested and sentenced Shtein several times since the summer of 2021.

Pussy Riot shot to fame internationally after a performance in 2012 in Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral to protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The performance cost its members sentences of up to two years in prison for vandalism. EFE mos/ssk