Ex-Pussy Riot Member Says FSB Recruited Her to Spy on Dissident Artists
In a YouTube interview on 24 August 2023, Rita Flores, known as Margarita Konovalova and a former member of Pussy Riot, alleged that the FSB of Russia coerced her into collaboration by threatening her family and compelling her to spy on artists. She recounted various intimidation methods, including threats of death and enforced disappearances. Previously, in 2021, Flores had been imprisoned for her anti-Putin protests. She also spoke about FSB actions against artists Philippenzo and Pavel Krisevich, who both sought refuge outside Russia due to harassment. Flores expressed gratitude to her lawyer Dmitry Zakhvatov and businessman Leonid Nevzlin for aiding her escape, and disclosed an FSB scheme to entrap and assassinate fellow Pussy Riot member Pyotr Verzilov.
Key facts
- Rita Flores, former Pussy Riot member, claims FSB pressured her to spy on dissident artists starting in 2023.
- Interview published by Port Media on YouTube on 24 August.
- FSB agents threatened to kill her family and arrange her forced disappearance.
- Flores was threatened with prosecution for social media posts about Bucha massacre.
- She was jailed in 2021 for speaking out against Putin regime.
- FSB operations targeted street artist Philippenzo and performance artist Pavel Krisevich.
- Flores claims FSB assigned her to lure Pyotr Verzilov to Serbia for kidnapping and murder.
- Zakhvatov sentenced in absentia to 21 years in prison; declared 'foreign agent' in 2025.
Entities
Artists
- Rita Flores
- Margarita Konovalova
- Philippenzo
- Filipp Kozlov
- Pavel Krisevich
- Pyotr Verzilov
- Philipp Kozlov
- Margarita Konowalowa
- Marija Aljochina
- Pawel Krisewitsch
- Nadja Tolokonnikowa
- Pjotr Wersilow
Institutions
- Pussy Riot
- FSB
- Port Media
- Telegram
- Mediazona
- Voina
- Monopol
Locations
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Bucha
- Kyiv
- Serbia
- Moscow
- Kremlin
- Domodedovo Airport
- Lithuania
- Paris